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Publisher's version (útgefin grein), Abiotic formation of n-alkane hydrocarbons has been postulated to occur within Earth's crust. Apparent evidence was primarily based on uncommon carbon and hydrogen isotope distribution patterns that set methane and its higher chain homologues apart from biotic isotopic compositions associated with microbial production and closed system thermal degradation of organic matter. Here, we present the first global investigation of the carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of n-alkanes in volcanic-hydrothermal fluids hosted by basaltic, andesitic, trachytic and rhyolitic rocks. We show that the bulk isotopic compositions of these gases follow trends that are characteristic of high temperature, open system degradation of organic matter. In sediment-free systems, organic matter is supplied by surface waters (seawater, meteoric water) circulating through the reservoir rocks. Our data set strongly implies that thermal degradation of organic matter is able to satisfy isotopic criteria previously classified as being indicative of abiogenesis. Further considering the ubiquitous presence of surface waters in Earth's crust, abiotic hydrocarbon occurrences might have been significantly overestimated., This work became possible through DFG grant FI 948/8-1.

This file includes details about the laboratory procedures and computational analysis of the genetic data. Also, it includes Supplementary Figures S1-S7 and Supplementary Tables S1-S3.

Nisyros Island (Greece) is an active volcano hosting a high-enthalpy geothermal system. During June 2013, an extensive survey on Hg concentrations in different matrices (fumarolic fluids, atmosphere, soils, and plants) was carried out at the Lakki Plain, an intracaldera area affected by widespread soil and fumarolic degassing. Concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), together with H2S and CO2, were simultaneously measured in both the fumarolic emissions and the atmosphere around them. At the same time, 130 samples of top soils and 31 samples of plants (Cistus creticus and salvifolius and Erica arborea and manipuliflora) were collected for Hg analysis. Mercury concentrations in fumarolic gases ranged from 10,500 to 46,300 ng/m3, while Hg concentrations in the air ranged from high background values in the Lakki Plain caldera (10-36 ng/m3) up to 7100 ng/m3 in the fumarolic areas. Outside the caldera, the concentrations were relatively low (2-5 ng/m3). The positive correlation with both CO2 and H2S in air highlighted the importance of hydrothermal gases as carrier for GEM. On the other hand, soil Hg concentrations (0.023-13.7 μg/g) showed no significant correlations with CO2 and H2S in the soil gases, whereas it showed a positive correlation with total S content and an inverse one with the soil pH, evidencing the complexity of the processes involving Hg carried by hydrothermal gases while passing through the soil. Total Hg concentrations in plant leaves (0.010-0.112 μg/g) had no direct correlation with soil Hg, with Cistus leaves containing higher values of Hg with respect to Erica. Even though GEM concentrations in the air within the caldera are sometimes orders of magnitude above the global background, they should not be considered dangerous to human health. Values exceeding the WHO guideline value of 1000 ng/m3 are very rare (

Purpose: To assess refraction changes under binocular viewing conditions dur-ing the control of the deviation for near fixation in intermittent exotropia (XT) patients. Methods: 20 (XT) patients aged 4 to 26 years were enrolled in the study. The four patterns of divergent strabismus were present in the study group: divergence excess, basic exodeviation, convergence insufficiency, and simulated divergence excess. All the patients exhibited random dot stereopsis. The refraction and pupillary diameter were measured by infrared video retinos-copy and pupillometry with the Plusoptix A12 photoscreener (Nuernberg, Germany) under ei-ther monocular or binocular viewing conditions at 1 meter distance. The accommodation con-vergence to accommodation (AC/A) ratio was measured in all patients with the gradient method. Results: A myopic shift (mean 0.44, SD 0.422) was recorded under binocular viewing condi-tions during the control of the deviation. No hyperopic shift was detected turning from monocu-lar to binocular viewing conditions in any patient. No change in pupil diameter was recorded passing from monocular to binocular fixation. The mean AC/A ratio resulted 5.61. When con-sidering the sub-groups, it ranged from 8.7 in the divergence excess group, to 5.6 in the basic exodeviation group and 3.4 in the convergence insufficiency group. Conclusions: The myopic shift occurring under binocular viewing conditions during the con-trol of the deviation at near fixation could be explained by the increased vergence demand in (XT) patients. Fusional vergence through convergence accommodation to convergence ratio ra-ther than accommodation through AC/A ratio seems to be the main compensatory mechanism for the deviation in (XT).

Greece, a country characterised by intense seismic and volcanic activity, has a complex geodynamic and geological setting that favours the occurrence of many gas manifestations. In this study, we address the origin of CH4 and light hydrocarbons in cold and thermal emissions discharging along the Hellenic territory. Also, we investigate their possible relationship with the main geochemical composition of the gases and the different geological settings of the sampling sites. For this purpose we collected 101 new samples that were analysed for their chemical (O2, N2, CH4, CO2, He, Ne, Ar, H2, H2S and C2-C6 hydrocarbons) and isotopic (R/RA, δ13C-CO2, δ13C-CH4 and δ2H-CH4) composition. Results show that CH4 presents a wide range of concentrations (from

IntroductionAccording to Jaspers, with the term of choice you should not be understood the possibility to choose between objects but freedom as a choice for themselves. Because I choose, then I am; in fact, I feel my freedom in my mind. Choose what is best for the psychiatric patient in different contexts (relational, occupational, social, therapeutic) is the ability to act. The best practices provide that psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation professionals are committed to enhancing the capacity to choose but the legal protection measures are likely to be a contradiction.ObjectiveWe try to explore the theme of choice based on the capacity to act or failure to act from a phenomenological approach.MethodThrough some concrete cases, extrapolated from clinical practice, highlight the contradictions between enunciation of principles and procedures for responding to the problems of psychiatric patients who are not able to choose.ConclusionsProtections of health and individual freedom are the weights of a balance poised, since there is uncertainty about the anthropological paradigm of the mentally ill.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

IntroductionThe polypharmacy is a very controversial subject; it brings together problems of interaction between drugs, side effects, and rationality of co-prescriptions, pharmaco-economic aspects. The long acting is useful to solve adherence to treatment but they are often prescribed in polytherapy.MethodThe aim of this studies is to compare long-acting haloperidol, fluphenazine, risperidone and paliperidone regard to prescribing associations and pharmaco-economy. Also we want to consider for each long-acting which and how many drugs are associated and the implications in terms of pharmaco-economics. We examined all prescriptions (126 patients) over a period of 12 months in a mental health center, identifying which long acting had the best pharmaco-economic profile.ResultsDespite being the less prescribed and not being associated with other psychiatric drugs, paliperidone palmitate shows the best pharmaco-economic profile.ConclusionsThe costs of a drug are in relationship not only with unit price but also with the question of safety in order to oppose the overmedication.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

IntroductionThe legal dispute between doctors and patients is increasing. The “frivolous lawsuit” is spreading and the psychiatrist is being dragged to court in the dock. Guidelines and operational protocols become the bastions of the defensive psychiatry. Defensive psychiatry involves, for example, a larger number of hospitalizations, also involuntary admissions, and psycopharmacological prescriptions.ObjectivesWe want to see if the issue of defensive psychiatry is perceived by psychiatrists as a risk in their clinical practices and what consequences may result in the relationship with the patient.MethodsThrough an audit and through a literature review get to define the defensive psychiatry.ConclusionsThough there is much confusions and uncertainty in this field, the defensive psychiatry distorts the relationship with the patients and proposes the questions of social control.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Purpose To assess which is the most sensitive and specific exam for detecting an early retinal ganglion cells (RGC) damage between hemifield test pattern electroretinogram (PERG HF) and the posterior pole asymmetry analysis with optical coherence tomography (OCT-PPAA) in ocular hypertensive patients (OH). Methods Forty-two OH patients (mean age of 56.0±5.6 yrs.) with an intraocular pressure (IOP)>21mmHg and forty healthy controls (mean age of 55.2±6.4 yrs.) with IOP

We have isolated two full length cDNA clones encoding Nicotiana plumbaginifolia NADH-glutamate dehydrogenase. Both clones share amino acid boxes of homology corresponding to conserved GDH catalytic domains and putative mitochondrial targeting sequence. One clone shows a putative EF-hand loop. The level of the two transcripts is affected differently by carbon source.

An integrated genetic map of the dioecious species Asparagus officinalis L. has been constructed on the basis of RFLP, RAPD, AFLP and isoenzyme markers. The segregation analysis of the polymorphic markers was carried out on the progeny of five different crosses between male and female doubled-haploid clones generated by anther culture. A total of 274 markers have been organized to ten linkage groups spanning 721.4 cM. Since the haploid chromosome number of asparagus is ten, the established linkage groups probably represent the different chromosomes; however, the only group associated with a specific chromosome is the one which includes sex, whose determinant genes have been located on chromosome 5. A total of 33 molecular markers (13 RFLPs, 18 AFLPs, 2 RAPDs and 1 isoenzyme) have been located on this chromosome. The closest marker to the sex determinant is the AFLP SV marker at 3.2 cM.

The heat shock (HS) response in callus cultures of the ornamental plant Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus var. hybrida was analyzed. A HS at 35° C or 40° C for 4 h induced (a) the synthesis of several heat shock proteins (HSPs), especially in the small molecular weight range and some spots corresponding to HSP70 components, and (b) an increase in the steady state levels of some specific mRNAs. At the nonstressing temperature (26° C), a sustainable level of translation for HSP70 was indeed carried out, as confirmed by immunological analysis with a monoclonal antibody against cotton HSP70. The steady state levels of mRNAs measured before and after a HS by Northern hybridization showed an increase with the heterologous probes HSP17.4, HSP17.6, and HSP21, whereas the probes HSC70 and HSP70 did not show any difference between the levels of control and HS-mRNAs. A pretreatment at 35° C, which induced a set of HSPs in the callus cultures, decreased the cell damage upon exposure to a temperature of 45° C as determined either with a regrowth test or by the tetrazolium reduction assay. Typically, as with the whole plants, callus of Gerbera jamesonii possessed the ability to respond to HS both by inducing HSPs and by developing an acquired thermotolerance.

On the basis of our personal experience in 70 cases (66 pleural effusions) observed during the period January 1984- January 1996 we are here illustrating and discussing the diagnostic role of thoracoscopy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.A histological diagnosis was achieved in 94.2% of cases. The endoscopic appearance was clearly neoplastic (masses, nodules) in 53 patients (75.7%) and simply inflammatory in 17 pachypleuritis in 13 (18.6%) and of diffuse hyperemia in 3 (5.7%). In all cases fluid cytology (diagnostic yield: 18.5%) and needle biopsy (diagnostic yield 17.1%) were performed.The extension of pleural involvement (endoscopic staging according to Boutin) was also determined. In 16 patients (22.8%) a parietal and diaphragmatic involvement (stage Ia) was found. In 40 patients (57.2%) an associated visceral invasion (stage Ib). In 14 cases (20%) a diffuse parietal, visceral and mediastinal extension (stage II). The exam has always been well tolerated with few immediate complications: subcutaneous emphysema (4 cases) and some negligeable parietal bleeding (2 cases).

Understanding how and why humans are biologically different is indispensable to get oriented in the ever-growing body of genomic data. Here we discuss the evidence based on which we can confidently state that humans are the least genetically variable primate, both when individuals and when populations are compared, and that each individual genome can be regarded as a mosaic of fragments of different origins. Each population is somewhat different from any other population, and there are geographical patterns in that variation. These patterns clearly indicate an African origin for our species, and keep a record of the main demographic changes accompanying the peopling of the whole planet. However, only a minimal fraction of alleles, and a small fraction of combinations of alleles along the chromosome, is restricted to a single geographical region (and even less so to a single population), and diversity between members of the same population is very large. The small genomic differences between populations and the extensive allele sharing across continents explain why historical attempts to identify, once and for good, major biological groups in humans have always failed. Nevertheless, racial categorization is all but gone, especially in clinical studies. We argue that racial labels may not only obscure important differences between patients but also that they have become positively useless now that cheap and reliable methods for genotyping are making it possible to pursue the development of truly personalized medicine.

A preliminary genetic map of the dioecious species Asparagus officinalis L. (2n = 20) has been constructed on the basis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and isozyme marker data. With DNA samples digested with either EcoRI or HindIII 61 out of 148 probes (41%) identified RFLPs in six families of doubled haploid lines obtained through anther culture. A higher level of polymorphism (65%) was observed when a single family was screened for RFLPs using six distinct restriction enzymes. Segregation analysis of the BC progenies (40-80 individuals) resulted in a 418-cM extended map comprising 43 markers: 39 RFLPs, three isozymes and one morphological (sex). These markers are clustered in 12 linkage groups and four of them exhibited significant deviations from the expected 1∶1 ratio. One isozyme and three RFLP markers were assigned to the sex chromosome.

This report summarises the results of 5 studies carried out to determine the penetration of clarithromycin and its 14-hydroxy metabolite into oral and respiratory tissues. 128 patients of both sexes undergoing dental surgery, rhinoplasty, lung resection or tonsil resection, or presenting with an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, were administered clarithromycin (generally 250mg twice daily; 500mg twice daily for lung resections) for 3 days prior to sample collection. Serum, tissue and secretion samples were assayed for clarithromycin and 14-hydroxy clarithromycin using an agar diffusion bioassay or high performance liquid chromatography. Concentrations were assayed in triplicate and standard curves created using computerised linear regression analysis. Following oral administration, the pharmacodynamics of clarithromycin in oral and respiratory tissues and serum include therapeutic levels that exceed the minimum inhibitory concentrations for common respiratory pathogens for up to 12 hours following administration.

Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus var. hybrida callus cultures subjected to carbon starvation show alteration in some physiological parameters and protein synthesis. Five days of continuous starvation induce a decrease of protein and carbohydrate contents to respectively, 27% and 12% of the values of the control, while specific activities of glutamate dehydrogenase and proteases reached levels about 5-fold and 2-fold higher than the control ones. Electrophoresis of proteins labelled by in vivo and in vitro translation showed the appearance of several starvation-related proteins (STP). At day 5 from the onset of starvation the induction of STPs was related with levels of in vitro translatable mRNAs, whereas at day 1 the synthesis of STPs depended upon translational regulation. The induction of STPs was also analyzed under conditions of specific protein synthesis inhibition by heat-shock. Protein synthesis in heat-shocked starved cells showed (i) the induction of heat-shock proteins (HSPs), and (ii) the disappearance of all but three STPs of molecular mass 70, 69 and 36 kDa. A similarity between one HSP and one STP is hypothesized on the basis of comigration on two-dimensional gels (70 kDa). During recovery from heat-shock starved cells showed the reappearance of all the STPs and the simultaneous maintenance of most of the HSPs. The data presented support a role of STPs in starvation and the existence of interactions between heat-shock and nutrient deprivation.

In callus cultures of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase was repressed by glucose, whereas, on the contrary, carbon and energy source deprivation induced a remarkable increase in specific activity. Definition of these two opposite types of response was made possible by the use of glycerol as a non-repressing carbon source: in this condition, glutamate dehydrogenase activity reached an intermediate level, which was similar to the derepressed values of activity obtainable when cultures were allowed to exhaust the glucose supply in the medium. Isoelectric focusing analysis revealed the existence of three different isoenzymatic patterns which could be correlated to the three different levels of specific activity: repressed (glucose), induced (carbon starvation) and intermediate (glycerol). Repression affected mainly the four more cathodic bands which were predominant in non-repressed conditions. The possible catabolic role of these isoenzymes is discussed.

Extracts from phylloclads of Asparagus officinails were electrophoretically analyzed for isozyme polymorphism. Fourteen enzyme systems were examined using four buffer systems: seven enzymes (acid phosphatase, catalase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, peroxidase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) exhibited clear and consistent banding patterns. Isozyme polymorphism was studied in seven pairs of male and female doubled haploids and in their male F1s. Segregation of polymorphic loci was examined in the backcross progenies and was found to be consistent with a simple Mendelian inheritance in all cases, except for three anodical peroxidases, where two factors have been hypothesized. No linkage could be found between isozyme markers that were segregating in the same cross, but association was demonstrated between one malate dehydrogenase locus and the sex determining genes. The availability of isozyme markers may be useful in breeding and, in particular, the localization of one malate dehydrogenase locus on the sex chromosomes may be helpful in mapping the sex genes.

Firm scientific evidence supports the causal association between malignant mesothelioma (MM) and occupational exposure to asbestos. Risk attributable to occupation varies from 30 to 80% across different populations. The existence of a threshold level below which there is no risk of MM is still debated. A prompt and thorough assessment of exposure is essential to evaluate and manage MM cases, from diagnostic and epidemiological points of view.To highlight the multiple areas of intervention by Occupational Physicians (OP) in MM evaluation and management, to describe an experience of OP in the province of Brescia.The main areas of interest of the OP are exposure assessment, diagnosis (clinical, etiological), medico-legal issues, social consequences, preventive strategies, risk communication, scientific dispute/uncertainties. By means of an active search, the Brescia MM registry, managed by OP belonging to the local health authority observed 309 MM from 1977 to 2003; the local Institute of Occupational Health, hosted in a hospital of national relevance, evaluated about 200 MM in the last decade. The main outcomes of OP activity are the high percentage of direct interviews, individual case management, expert exposure assessment, etiological diagnosis, counselling, medico-legal assistance, better knowledge of occupational risks, enhanced cooperation among health professionals (oncologists, pathologists, surgeons, pneumologists, general practitioners and OP), important contribution to Registries and to epidemiology (estimates of attributable risks, incidence, survival rates), with positive social and scientific consequences (insurance agencies, trade union organizations, public events, teaching opportunities).This experience highlights the multifaceted role of OP in active research and evaluation of MM cases, in the context of a multidisciplinary approach.

Sex determination and differentiation have been studied by different approaches: morphological, biochemical and genetic. Flower development has been followed by SEM and divided in different stages. Major biochemical events (protein pattern, RNase activities and levels of hormones possibily involved in sex differentiation) were analysed at these stages. The aim of to sex and for sex-specific messengers) was to isolate genes involved in sex determination and differentiation.

Two different amplification products, termed c1 and c2, showing a high similarity to glutamate dehydrogenase sequences from plants, were obtained from Asparagus officinalis using two degenerated primers and RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). The genes corresponding to these cDNA clones were designated aspGDHA and aspGDHB. Screening of a cDNA library resulted in the isolation of cDNA clones for aspGDHB only. Analysis of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence from the full-length cDNA suggests that the gene product contains all regions associated with metabolic function of NAD glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD-GDH). A first phylogenetic analysis including only GDHs from plants suggested that the two GDH genes of A. officinalis arose by an ancient duplication event, pre-dating the divergence of monocots and dicots. Codon usage analysis showed a bias towards A/T ending codons. This tendency is likely due to the biased nucleotide composition of the asparagus genome, rather than to the translational selection for specific codons. Using principal coordinate analysis, the evolutionary relatedness of plant GDHs with homologous sequences from a large spectrum of organisms was investigated. The results showed a closer affinity of plant GDHs to GDHs of thermophilic archaebacterial and eubacterial species, when compared to those of unicellular eukaryotic fungi. Sequence analysis at specific amino acid signatures, known to affect the thermal stability of GDH, and assays of enzyme activity at non-physiological temperatures, showed a greater adaptation to heat-stress conditions for the asparagus and tobacco enzymes compared with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme.Key words: Asparagus officinalis, glutamate dehydrogenase, complementary DNA, enzyme thermostability, principal coordinate analysis, evolution.

The chemical and isotopic composition of several thermal springs and associated gas phases in a large sector of central-western peninsular India has been investigated. Such springs have meteoric isotopic signature and emerge, after very well developed convective circulation at depth, along important tectonic structures such as the Son-Narmada-Tapti rift zone and the West Coast Fault. Chemical components in both gas and liquid phases and geothermometric estimations suggest that such springs are not related to the presence of any active hydrothermal systems at shallow depth in any of the studied areas. The hottest convective water emerges at Tattapani at near boiling point for water at atmospheric pressure (90°C) in association with an N2-rich gas phase of clear meteoric signature. Since such fluids do not carry any corrosive components, they could be conveniently exploited for industrial purposes, such as drying processes. From a tectonic point of view, the presence of thermal emergences scattered in a wide area along geologically well defined structures, which also generate frequent moderate earthquakes, suggests that such structures are active. Although the isotopic composition of thermal springs points to a meteoric origin, their feeding aquifers are not topographically driven as in most active Alpine orogenic belts. The relative high quantity of total helium in the associated gas phase suggests also that they are really deep, old, long circulating waters. We propose for such waters the term 'intracratonic thermal waters' since the isotopic signature of He in the gas phase does not show any release of primordial 3He in any of the areas of spring emergence. Based on the quite low 3He/4He ratio in the gas phase we suggest also that, in spite of its morphological shape, the Narmada-Son-Tapti rift zone cutting the Indian subcontinent in two is more related to paleo-suture rather than to a mid-continental rift system

The frequency of malignant pleural mesothelioma has increased greatly in the past three decades; it is a tumor of great clinical, epidemiologic and therapeutical interest. Therapy should not be started before the tumor has been correctly diagnosed and staged with thoracoscopy and computed tomography (CT) which have replaced plain chest radiography. To help optimize the combination of these techniques, the authors report on their experience in 37 patients examined with conventional radiology and then with thoracoscopy. In 26 patients with CT findings of malignant pleural mesothelioma, the authors compared thoracoscopy and CT findings in the assessment of neoplastic spread to the parietal (stage IA) and/or visceral (stage IB) pleura. CT appears to be the technique of choice after plain chest radiography: if the suspected malignant pleural mesothelioma is classified as stage II, III or IV, thoracoscopy should be used only for histologic confirmation. Conversely, in stages IA and IB, thoracoscopy--besides histology--should be used to confirm malignant spread to the visceral pleura.

The paper summarizes the coordinated researches conducted by three Italian groups in the area of sex determination and differentiation in the dioecious species Asparagus officinalis . Morphological evidence indicates that sex differentiation in Asparagus consists essentially of selective abortion of gynoecium or androecium of initially hermaphroditic floral primordia occurring in genotypically determined male and female individuals. Abortion occurs in pollen-mother cells and anthers in females and in megaspore-mother cells but not in the vegetative tissues of the ovary in males. The differential developmental pathway is accompanied by changes in relative abundance of auxin and cytokinins. The genetic ssytem controlling abortion of male or female organs is apparently monogenic (possibly a bipartite gene) with factor(s) associated with the homomorphic chromosome pair L5. Other genes influence the development of reproductive structures as indicated by the presence of genetic factors controlling stylar growth in male plants. The presence of extensive polymorphism in isoenzyme and DNA restriction fragment length patterns (RFLP) allows the search for markers associated with ‘sex genes’: a locus encoding a malic dehydrogenase (MDH) isoenzyme has been found about 20 cM from sex genes implying that chromosomes in which sex factors are located could pair and recombine. Searches for messages specifically expressed in reproductive structures were conducted by 2D-electrophoresis of existing and newly synthesized polypeptides or of in vitro translation products of poly(A) + RNA from male and female flowers and by isolating specific monoclonal antibodies against sex specific floral antigens.

The relative usefulness of a combination of some tumor markers, such as CEA, AFP, ferritin and NSE for the diagnosis of lung cancer was assessed by multiple logistic analysis. Serum concentration of these markers was determined in 68 patients with lung cancer (50 with NSCLC and 18 with SCLC, in 68 patients with benign lung disease and 75 normal control subjects. Ferritin proved to be the most useful in diagnosing both NSCLC and SCLC, while NSE was found to be of some help in diagnosing SCLC only. The multiple marker panel proved to be more sensitive and specific than any single marker in discriminating lung cancer from normal control tissue, but it was of limited value in discriminating malignant from benign lung disease. The results of the present study would suggest that the panel of investigated tumor markers is not of great help for the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

7114 Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE)is often refractory to cytotoxic agents and is frequently complicated by severe impairment of quality of life and easily relapse after conservative ...

The use of a sex-linked molecular marker for early sex diagnosis in the dioecious species Asparagus officinalis L. was evaluated. Screening of random genomic probes as a part of a restriction fragment length polymorphism mapping project resulted in the identification of a sex-linked (6.9 cM) marker. The usefulness of this molecular tool was compared to morphological markers for prediction of gender in several genotypes. The level of polymorphism detected by this probe was high, and the level of incorrect sex attribution, as determined by this method, was low (≈7%).