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Aim. Description of the results of molecular genetic studies of a number of fish, narrow-clawed crayfish, and mollusk species. Methods. For the analysis, RAPD, SSR, and DNA-barcoding methods were used. Results. Unique RAPD amplicones were identified to differentiate Lahvinsky, Tremlyansky and Isobelinsky carp breeds. With the use of SSR markers, the Dniester-Dnieper and Kama population belonging to the sterlet, grown in two farms of Belarus, was established. An instruction on the application of molecular genetic analysis to establish the species belonging to meat and caviar of sturgeon species was developed. The species composition and genetic polymorphism in narrow-clawed crayfish in reservoirs of Brest and Gomel regions was estimated. The work on DNA-barcoding of mollusks has begun. Conclusions. Molecular-genetic passports of carp breeds of Belarusian breeding are compiled. The population belonging to sterlet is determined in two fish farms inBelarus. Instruction for the use of molecular genetic analysis to establish the species (population) belonging to the sturgeon fish and their products is introduced in the country and used for testing and certification of sturgeon products. For the Byelorussian Polesie region, it is established that the narrow-clawed crayfish in theGomel region reservoirs has the greatest genetic diversity. Keywords: molecular markers, carp, sturgeon, narrow-clawed crayfish, mollusks.

Aim. Description of the results of molecular genetic research of insects-representatives of the subfamily Cetoniinae (flower chafer). Methods. For the analysis, methods of low-traumatic sampling of material for DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction method, sequencing of the region of mtDNA COI gene were used. Results. A technique for sampling biological material for isolating DNA from the hind legs of individuals was proposed, which allowed not to remove from the habitat the individuals of the most valuable species, collected on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. A collection of DNA samples of representatives of the subfamily Cetoniinae was prepared. The haplotypes Oxythyrea funesta (Poda, 1761) and Protaetia aeruginosa (Linnaeus, 1767) of representatives of the populations inhabiting the territory of Belarus have been identified. Conclusions. There were significant differences in haplotypes among representatives of the Belarusian and European parts of their areal. Keywords: molecular markers, mtDNA, DNA-barcoding, insects, subfamily Cetoniinae.

Aim. Intravital video microscopy of cells is a highly informative approach to the study of cell cultures. Often, this method allows refining and complementing the data obtained by researchers at the visual study of living cultures or fixed preparations. The main problem of the long intravital video microscopy is the maintenance of cell activity. To solve this problem, video-computer "Tsitomir" has been developed. Methods. During cultivation the images of the cell culture areas (from one to several hundred) specified by researcher are captured at regular intervals (time-lapse method of photography). A motorized sample stage allows moving the culture vessel with the joystick, as well as to scan the specified cell culture sites automatically. Results. In our investigations, we studied such processes as cell division, death, differentiation, motility and massive changes of cell cultures associated with cancerous transformation, including abnormal morphological changes and cell aggregation. The effectiveness of the intravital cell microscopy use to test the anti-cancer drugs is shown as well. Conclusions. Opportunities of video-complex enable its use in biomedical research, in the development of cell technologies, the study of the action of pharmacological agents and sanitary-hygienic regulation of chemicals in the cell assay systems. Obtained through "Tsitomir" photos and videos can also be used as educational material for students of biological, medical and agricultural universities.Keywords: cell culture, intravital videomicroscopy, differentiation, proliferation, anti-cancer protection.

The age-related changes in hemolymph cellular composition of snail Lymnaea stagnalis (Gastropoda, Pulmonata) obtained from individuals of a natural population (the river Pripayt, Gomel region, Belarus) as well as in the spectrum of cytomorphological traits of hemocyte genetic damages have been studied. The percentage of the distinguished hemolymph cell types during the chosen age period was not revealed to change. The percentage of cells with different morphological attributes of cell death varied during ageing. The tendency to increase in the total level of dying cells was observed.

A new information technology, the information-logical approach (ILA), which is based on information theory methods and the fuzzy sets theory, is considered. This method can be applied for the majority of biological and ecological studies, and in genetics. In breeding and genetic studies, ILA can be used as a basis for the development of methods that will allow one to take into account ecological, geographic, climatic, and other peculiarities of trait expression that influence productivity. Application of ILA also opens new prospects for analyzing results of genetic and ecological monitoring (e.g., post-Chernobyl' monitoring) to predict further behavior of the systems studied. This paper presents a general outline of information analysis, describes a block of one-factor analysis, which was implemented on a personal computer and has a user-friendly interface, and also presents several examples concerning application of ILA to specific genetic systems.

Aim. The article deals with the assessment of some heavy metals effects on metallothionein expression in such a test system as the great pond snail L. stagnalis. Methods. There are methods of mollusk specimen cultivation and gene expression level estimation (PCR in real-time mode), as well as data analysis. Results. A significant increase in MT gene expression was observed in both young (4.5 months) and older (7 months) mollusks on the 7th day of exposure to 0.003 mg/L of lead ions as well as significant increase in MT gene expression was observed in older mollusks on the 7th day of exposure to 0.0001–0.001 mg/L of cadmium ions. Conclusions. The expediency of L. stagnalis adults using at the age of 3 to 5 months with other test systems for biotesting liquid metal-containing waste based on the gene expression evaluation in a short (no more than 7 day) experiment using the Real Time PCR has been shown.Keywords: Lymnaea stagnalis, lead/cadmium, metallothioneins, gene expression, real time PCR.

The possibility is discussed of mapping the E. coli K-12 markers on the basis of mathematical models of recombination previously developed by the authors. The analysis showed that it is advisable to use the symmetrical crossing-over model for mapping the genes close to the selective marker. The stochastic model of recombination gives good results also for genes located in the proximal part of the chromosome.