Several different phenotypes of the native Pramenka sheep have been developed in the Balkan region for different environmental and socio-cultural conditions. Animals from seven West Balkan Pramenka sheep types were analysed for 15 microsatellite markers and for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the results were used to assess genetic variation within and among the types and to infer the genetic population structure of the Pramenka sheep. Mean expected heterozygosity and allelic richness over the microsatellite loci and sheep types were 0.78 and 7.9, respectively. A Bayesian statistical method for estimating hidden genetic structure suggested that a core of the largest panmictic population was formed by Serbian, Kosovan, Bosnian, Montenegrin and Albanian types, while Croatian and Macedonian types comprised two other main populations, respectively. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed two mtDNA haplogroups in the Pramenka sheep, B and A, with a frequency of 93.7% and 6.3%, respectively. A total of 60 mtDNA haplotypes were found in 64 animals sequenced, and the mean nucleotide and haplotypic diversities over the types were 0.013 and 0.945, respectively. Molecular analysis suggests that the West Balkan Pramenka sheep types have their origins in two distinct maternal lineages of domestic sheep and different Pramenka phenotypes tend to form few panmictic populations. The Pramenka sheep represents a valuable resource of genetic diversity in sheep.

The protein profiles of tomato seeds from sub-species ( subsp. cultum Brezh., subsp. subspontaneum Brezh. and subsp. spontaneum Brezh.) were analyzed using SDS-PAGE technique. Electrophoreograms and denzitograms of total, soluble and non-soluble proteins of 31 different samples have showed quantitative and qualitative differences. Qualitative differences in electrophoregrams of total seed proteins refer to protein fragments in zone A (114 kDa, 83 kDa and 65 kDa) and protein fragment in zone C (17 kDa). Qualitative differences in electrophoregrams of soluble seed proteins refer to protein fragment in zone A (94 kDa). Qualitative differences in electrophoregrams of nonsoluble seed proteins refer to protein fragments with molecular weights of: 210 kDa, 85 kDa, 67 kDa and 26 kDa

Cord blood samples of 3,232 newborns of different ethnic origins living in the Republic of Macedonia were analyzed by starch gel electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Hb Bart's was detected in 26 newborns (0.8%) indicating the low incidence of alpha-thalassemia in the Republic of Macedonia. Five different hemoglobin variants (Hb O-Arab, Hb Hamilton, Hb Strumica, Hb F-Macedonia-I, and Hb F-Macedonia-II) were also detected. The levels of the G gamma chains fell into three categories; normal range with G gamma between 50 and 80% (3,143 newborns or 97.2%), low range with G gamma levels of < 50% (35 newborns or 1.1%), and high range with G gamma levels of > 80% (54 newborns or 1.7%). The overall incidence of the A gamma T variant was 20.8%, similar to that found in several Mediterranean populations. DNA analyses showed that the molecular basis of high and low G gamma determinants are heterogeneous in our population. gamma-Gene triplications and the G gamma G gamma arrangements were detected in newborns with high G gamma levels, while gamma gene deletions and A gamma A gamma arrangements were found in newborns with low G gamma levels. All but one of the 135 samples with G gamma between 50 and 80% had the normal G gamma A gamma arrangement on both chromosomes; the only exception was an Albanian newborn (G gamma = 63%) with an-A gamma/G gamma G gamma A gamma arrangement.

Obesity has become a serious global problem that still needs a solution. One of the factors that leads to obesity is genetic predisposition. The identity and characteristics of the genes involved have not yet been fully confirmed. Analyzing the genetic contribution to obesity is a major step towards the solution. In this in silico study, using online bioinformatics tools, we evaluate the role of four genes that are believed to contribute to obesity. Data were collected and analyzed for the sequences of four so-called obesity genes: FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated protein), PPARG (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ), ADRB3 (adrenergic receptor β 3) and FABP2 (fatty acid binding protein 2). In the first part of the research, information about the genes was collected and organized and data in FASTA, format are extracted from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). In the second part, all genes were analyzed by comparing three species of organisms, Homo sapiens (human), Mus musculus (mouse) and Gallus (chicken). In the third part of this study, phylogenetic trees were constructed for each of the four genes, using blast local alignment search tool (BLAST) and molecular evolutionary genetics analysis (MEGA X) software. Our analysis reveals that the functions of all these genes are associated with overweight and obesity.

Different types of fertilizers, such as chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers and natural fertilizers are available on the market. The type of fertilizer has a large impact on plant production quality. The aim of this study, which was conducted under field conditions in the village of Jurumleri near Skopje, North Macedonia, was to investigate the influence of the application of two different types of fertilizers on leaf area and stomatal density in potato. The influence of the microbiological fertilizer Slavol and the organic fertilizer Biohumus was investigated. Also, a control plot without any fertilizer was used. A statistical tool (ANOVA test) was used for data analyses. The results showed that a statistically highly significant difference in average leaf area was found between plants treated with Slavol and plants treated with Biohumus (p<0.001). Also, a statistically highly significant difference was detected in stomatal density between plants treated with Slavol and control plants (p<0.001). A very significant difference was noticed between plants treated with Slavol and plants treated with Biohumus (p<0.01). The microbiological fertilizer Slavol showed better results than Biohumus in our research.