ABSTRACT
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is amongst the leading cause of deaths in the world. General risk
factors as well as some genetic factors are involved in causing diabetes mellitus.
Different nuclear and mitochondrial DNA mutations have been in relation with diabetes
mellitus. For the analysis of mitochondrial DNA mutations, nine samples were collected
in this study from 5 different families belonging to district Nowshera. DNA was extracted
by phenol chloroform iso-amyl alcohol method from buccal epithelial cells using saliva
as a source. The mitochondrial encoded tRNA leucine 1 (MT-TL1) gene was amplified
through PCR and 5 samples were sequenced belonging to 4 different families. The
sequences were aligned with (rCRS) accession No. NC-012920.1. No mutations were
found among MT-TL1 gene of the subjects. Hence, it is concluded that diabetes mellitus
in these subjects is not due to any mutation in MT-TL1 gene. It is therefore recommended
that whole mitochondrial DNA of the respective subjects should be sequenced.
Furthermore, a large number of individuals with diabetes mellitus needed to be study.

Abstract
Thirteen elite lines of Brassica napus L. imported from Australia, China and Pakistan
were acquired from Plant Genetic Resources Program, National Agricultural Research
Center, Islamabad, Pakistan. The experiment was conducted under field conditions in
the supervision of Department of Genetics, Hazara University, Mansehra in Random
Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications. For the evaluation and
characterization of the morphological traits i.e., days to 50% flowering, days to
maturity, plant height, number of branches, number of pods, pod length, pod width,
pod weight and seed weight/yield were studied. The data were generated on the basis
of ten randomly selected plants and then were subjected for simple statistics. Analysis
of variance (AVOVA) revealed significant results for all the traits while summary
statistics exhibited high level of genetic variability in days to 50% flowering, days to
maturity, plant height and number of pods. These traits could be used for further
improvement of germplasm while on the other hand; number of branches, pod length,
pod width, pod weight and seed yield need more attention for improvement. It can be
concluded from current observations that expansion of genetic stock might result in
the availability of improved cultivars for high yield potential. Coefficient of
correlation revealed significant combinations which could be exploiting directly for
crop improvement. Cluster analysis based on Euclidean distances described the
grouping pattern of elite lines for dissimilarities existed in morpho-physiological traits.
Elite line 24866 which was collected locally from Pakistan formed group one. While
other lines collected from Australia and China were found in cluster II. Local line
yielded best results for number of traits, this line is surely recommended for direct
utilization on farmer\'s field and in hybridization for crop improvement.