The molecular genetic marker, minisatellite locus D1S80 (1p35-p36), is a highly polymorphic variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). Its polymorphic nature allows for phylogenetic studies, forensic analysis, genetic maps construction and paternity testing to be performed. A study of the hypervariable locus D1S80 was conducted to determine the allele frequency and distribution of this locus in modern Malay in Sarawak population. The polymerase chain reaction technique was employed and results were analysed on polyacrylamide gel. A total of seventy-six DNA samples of unrelated Malay individuals in UNIMAS were collected and examined. The VNTR analysis of the D1S80 locus demonstrated the presence of 17 alleles in the Malay population. Allele with the size of 577 bp (27 repeats) was determined to be the most common in the sample population with the frequency of 0.1641, followed by allele with the size of 561 bp (26 repeats) and 529 bp (24 repeats) whose frequency is 0.1172 and 0.1094, respectively. The smallest allele is allele with the size of 465 bp (20 repeats) whereas the largest is allele with the size of 753 bp (38 repeats). The sample population exhibited 57.8% heterozygosity.
Filamentous fungi such as Fusarium equiseti KR706303 and Penicillium citrinum KR706304
are capable of sequestering heavy metals from aqueous solutions. In the present study, the role
play by various functional groups present in the cell wall of F. equiseti KR706303 and P.
citrinum KR706304 during lead and copper ions biosorption was investigated. The fungal
biomass was chemically treated to modify the functional groups present in their cell wall. These
modifications were studied through biosorption experiments. It was found that an esterification
of the carboxyl and phosphate groups, methylation of the amine groups and extraction of lipids
significantly decrease the biosorption of both lead and copper ions studied. Therefore, the
carbonyl, hydroxyl and amide groups were recognized as important in the biosorption of metal
ions by the tested fungi. The study showed that there was no release of any metal ions from the
biomass after biosorption, indicating that ion exchange may not be a key mechanism in the
biosorption of lead and copper ions by these fungi but complexation of metal ions within the
fungal cell wall.