The present disclosure relates to nucleic acid promoter sequences that are able to specifically express genes operatively linked to the promoter in brainstem and spinal motor neuron cells, and to methods for using such promoters to selectively express genes in motor neurons in vitro and in vivo. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 functioned as a motor neuron-specific promoter and was successful in expressing transgenes in motor neuron cells in vivo. The present disclosure also relates to compositions that can increase the activity or expression level of miR-218 and to compositions that can decrease the expression of miR-218 target nucleic acids.

The present invention relates to the method and use of fluorescent proteins in making transgenic fluorescent ornamental amphibians. The fluorescent ornamental amphibians are used to establish a population of transgenic ornamental amphibians and to provide to the ornamental amphibian industry. Thus, new varieties of ornamental amphibians of different fluorescence colors from a novel source are developed.

The present disclosure relates to nucleic acid promoter sequences that are able to specifically express genes operatively linked to the promoter in brainstem and spinal motor neuron cells, and to methods for using such promoters to selectively express genes in motor neurons in vitro and in vivo. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 functioned as a motor neuron-specific promoter and was successful in expressing transgenes in motor neuron cells in vivo. The present disclosure also relates to compositions that can increase the activity or expression level of miR-218 and to compositions that can decrease the expression of miR-218 target nucleic acids.

An automatic living food dispenser is provided as a top lid with air circulation holes, a rotatable carousel with cavities and nutrient compartments for storing and maintaining living food, a main compartment housing the carousel with a food release hole, a base unit for supporting the main compartment, a rotary mechanism to rotate the carousel relative to the base unit, and a control unit to control the function of a timer that indicates food release times. The control unit is configured to deliver signals to the motor to actuate a dispensing mechanism in response to settings preset by a user. At food release times, the rotary mechanism rotates the carousel and consequently pushes stored living food in the main compartment in a circular manner such that the living food may gravitationally drop through the food release hole to an external environment for the caged pet to consume.

The present disclosure relates to nucleic acid promoter sequences that are able to specifically express genes operatively linked to the promoter in brainstem and spinal motor neuron cells, and to methods for using such promoters to selectively express genes in motor neurons in vitro and in vivo. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 functioned as a motor neuron-specific promoter and was successful in expressing transgenes in motor neuron cells in vivo. The present disclosure also relates to compositions that can increase the activity or expression level of miR-218 and to compositions that can decrease the expression of miR-218 target nucleic acids.

This disclosure describes exemplary embodiments of a method of creating a YY animal broodstock, preferably in a single generation, wherein the broodstock includes only sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating YY males via androgenesis; (b) exposing selected ones of the YY males created in step (a) to a feminizing hormone; and (c) identifying sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males from among the YY males created in steps (a) and (b). In other embodiments, the method further comprises: (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) N times in order to produce N unrelated families of sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males; and (e) cross-breeding various ones of the unrelated families produced in step (d) in order to produce a genetically-diverse YY progeny. In some embodiments, N may be about 60.

This disclosure describes exemplary embodiments of a method of creating a YY animal broodstock, preferably in a single generation, wherein the broodstock includes only sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating YY males via androgenesis; (b) exposing selected ones of the YY males created in step (a) to a feminizing hormone; and (c) identifying sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males from among the YY males created in steps (a) and (b). In other embodiments, the method further comprises: (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) N times in order to produce N unrelated families of sperm-producing YY males and egg-producing YY males; and (e) cross-breeding various ones of the unrelated families produced in step (d) in order to produce a genetically-diverse YY progeny. In some embodiments, N may be about 60.

The present invention provides the following: a vector for inserting a desired nucleic acid into a predetermined site of a nucleic acid comprising a region formed of a first nucleotide sequence, the predetermined site, and a region composed of a second nucleotide sequence, in the stated order in the 5-to-3 direction, wherein the vector comprises a region formed of the first nucleotide sequence, the desired nucleic acid, and the second nucleotide sequence in the stated order in the 5-to-3 direction; a kit that includes this vector; a method of inserting a nucleic acid comprising a step for introducing this vector into a cell; a cell acquired by this method; and an organism comprising this cell.

A basking platform for reptiles and amphibians, in particular turtles, includes at least one portion of the platform elevated from the water to allow for basking, a floatation device to elevate the platform and ensure stability, at least one ramp partially submerged in the water to allow for reptiles and amphibians to climb on, a textured coating to allow easier grip, and at least one anchor to secure the platform in position.

The invention relates to an LED light (1) comprising a plurality of multichromatic LEDs (2, 3, 4, 5) that form at least LED groups (17) featuring the colors blue, green, and red for additive color mixing; at least one additional LED (5) that is associated with the LED group has a color from the LED group that differs from the colors of the LED group (17).