QScience Connect - Volume 2023, Issue 2

As exploratory research, the actual paper makes an interview with ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence language model designed to understand and generate human-like responses to a wide range of questions and topics. This paper aims to understand the functionality and user engagement of ChatGPT. It concludes that ChatGPT is designed on a transformer-based language model based on deep learning architecture that uses unsupervised learning to generate human-like text. It has a large database and memory system to store previous user responses, and it uses machine learning algorithms and natural language processing techniques to understand user inputs and retrieve information from its database to generate responses. The interview ultimately led to the development of an innovative research paper on Artificial Intelligence Dissociative Identity Disorder (AIDIS). This study: suggests the possibility of AI-based systems developing multiple identities or personas due to their exposure to different types of data and training, explores the potential implications and challenges of such a disorder, including ethical concerns, and the need for new regulations and policies in the field of AI.

Background: Microsatellite markers are highly versatile tools used in a wide array of applications including paternity testing, forensic analysis, and disease markers. However, the allele frequencies of these markers can vary greatly depending on ethnic subpopulations. Thus, the discovery of three distinct Qatari ethnic subpopulations (Bedouin, Persian, and African) has prompted the need to determine the allele frequencies that are more representative of the subpopulations. Objectives: This study aims to analyze 15 autosomal microsatellite loci from individuals belonging to each subpopulation and to generate the corresponding allele frequency tables. Additionally, the microsatellite markers were further investigated to examine the mating behaviors within each subpopulation as well as looking into a possible relationship between the markers and the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: DNA samples isolated from 266 individuals of interest (Bedouin, Persian, or African) were amplified using PCR and subjected to electrophoresis. The results were analyzed using various population genetics software such as FSTAT, GenAlEx, and GENEPOP to calculate several population parameters including inbreeding coefficients, allele frequencies, and expected and observed heterozygosity. Results: The results showed that the Bedouin subpopulation was distinct from the other two subpopulations. Furthermore, the Bedouin and African subpopulations were found to have a small positive inbreeding coefficient, while the Persian subpopulation displayed a slight outbreeding pattern. Lastly, two microsatellite loci showed tantalizing differences between diabetic and non-diabetic participants. Conclusions: The distinctness of the Bedouin population could be attributable to the heterogeneity of the Persian and African subpopulations, while the positive inbreeding coefficients could be explained by the relatively high rates of consanguineous marriages. The allele frequency tables generated for each subpopulation through this study can be used to strengthen microsatellite-based genetic testing; however, more studies are needed to further examine the potential relationship between T2DM and microsatellites.

Background: DNA barcoding allows for species identification and description of genetic diversity. However, in the Middle East, information on genetic diversity is accumulating at a slower pace compared to that of other regions. Methods: The COI sequence of 24 lizard and snake species in Qatar that represent major families within the order Squamata were sampled and amplified via PCR using RepCOI primers (apart from one species). Purified amplicons were then aligned, and high- quality sequences were uploaded to BOLD. Using Sphenodon punctatus as the outgroup, the phylogenetic analysis was conducted using raxmlGUI software following the maximum likelihood method. Results: The COI sequence from each of the species was obtained and the consensus sequences were submitted to GenBank. In the phylogenetic analysis, a close relationship between members of the Agamidae and Serpentes was confirmed. While members of the same genus often showed sister-taxa relationships, and species in the same family were clustered with reasonably high bootstrap supports, the COI-based phylogeny was not able to resolve the relationships among genera within the families or identify relationships with high resolution at deeper lineages. Conclusion: Although ideal for species identification, COI gene sequencing is limited in phylogenetic inference due to high mutation rates that restrict its effectiveness for resolving relationships at deep phylogenetic levels. However, COI gene sequencing can be combined with nuclear markers for a more in-depth analysis.

Recently, the tissue culture (T.C.) propagation has played a major role in the massive expansion of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) plantations by making available a large number of cloned plants. Nevertheless, even if the in vitro propagation is an effective and a rapid way of date palm production, it has been associated with the emergence of some growth problems. Morphological abnormalities have been observed in tissue culture- derived date palm.

Dwarfism is the most common abnormality recorded in the Qatari dates plantations. Plants produced by tissue culture in “Nemishi” and “Lulu” are the most sensitive varieties to this problem. Moreover, the phenomenon of pollination failure locally known as “sheiss” was observed with the varieties Khalass and Kheneisi.

These off type phenotypes appear in the plants maturity stage and are commonly detected in the field years after planting. Therefore, the detection of these abnormalities, at an early stage, should be performed.

Since the genetic variation altered DNA methylation and gene expression are associated with these abnormal phenotypes, the molecular identification is inevitably the solution.