Background: Archaeological studies have revealed a series of cultural changes around the Last Glacial Maximum in East Asia; whether these changes left any signatures in the gene pool of East Asians remains poorly indicated. To achieve deeper insights into the demographic history of modern humans in East Asia around the Last Glacial Maximum, we extensively analyzed mitochondrial DNA haplogroup M9a'b, a specific haplogroup that was suggested to have some potential for tracing the migration around the Last Glacial Maximum in East Eurasia.Results: A total of 837 M9a'b mitochondrial DNAs (583 from the literature, while the remaining 254 were newly collected in this study) pinpointed from over 28,000 subjects residing across East Eurasia were studied here. Fifty-nine representative samples were further selected for total mitochondrial DNA sequencing so we could better understand the phylogeny within M9a'b. Based on the updated phylogeny, an extensive phylogeographic analysis was carried out to reveal the differentiation of haplogroup M9a'b and to reconstruct the dispersal histories.Conclusions: Our results indicated that southern China and/or Southeast Asia likely served as the source of some post-Last Glacial Maximum dispersal(s). The detailed dissection of haplogroup M9a'b revealed the existence of an inland dispersal in mainland East Asia during the post-glacial period. It was this dispersal that expanded not only to western China but also to northeast India and the south Himalaya region. A similar phylogeographic distribution pattern was also observed for haplogroup F1c, thus substantiating our proposition. This inland post-glacial dispersal was in agreement with the spread of the Mesolithic culture originating in South China and northern Vietnam.

Multi-dimensional characterization was conducted to assess post-boiling quality variations among five Boletus species, with the aim of identifying the most suitable variety for boiling. Texture profile analysis revealed that Suillus luteus (HLT) and Leccinum aurantiacum (HC) exhibited tender textures, Boletus edulis (MW) was soft, Leccinum holopus (BC) was crisp, and Boletus aereus (YSH) was firm. Taste activity value analysis indicated that umami amino acids contributed most to the flavor of BC, sweet amino acids predominated in HLT, and bitter amino acids shaped the taste profiles of MW, HC, and YSH. Volatile flavor compound analysis showed that HLT was characterized by mushroom-like and fruity aromas, BC by fruity and creamy notes, HC by chocolate and fatty flavors, and MW and YSH by mushroom-like, fatty, and fruity aromas. Overall, HLT was identified as the most suitable species for boiling. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the precise processing of Boletus mushrooms.

Eryx is a genus of snakes belonging to the family Boidae. In this study, the mitochondrial genome sequence of Eryx tataricus was generated using a PacBio RSII DNA sequencer employing the single molecule, real-time sequencing technology. A maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree of 26 snakes was re-constructed based on the 13 protein-coding genes for convincing the mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Gastrodia elata Bl. (GE), a representative medicine–food homology material, requires appropriate processing prior to food application to meet established medicinal quality standards. However, the effects of different traditional processing methods on its quality attributes remain insufficiently elucidated. In this study, three representative processing methods, steaming, moistening, and bran-frying, were systematically compared to evaluate their impact on the structural, compositional, and flavor characteristics of GE. The results demonstrated that processing markedly altered both the physical structure and chemical composition of GE. Moistening caused minimal disruption to the native tissue architecture and largely preserved the free-water distribution pattern. Notably, gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol contents reached 0.38% and 4.16%, respectively, the highest among all treatments, while the overall flavor profile remained closest to that of fresh GE. In contrast, bran-frying induced pronounced dehydration and structural densification, with volatile compounds and differential metabolites accounting for 72.83% and 41.01%, respectively. This treatment also exhibited elevated levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and protein. Steaming, by comparison, promoted starch gelatinization and water redistribution, shifting the flavor profile from a delicate herbal note toward enhanced umami, floral, and mildly roasted characteristics. Overall, these findings reveal that processing-induced structural remodeling and changes in water state play critical roles in regulating the quality attributes of GE. By integrating structural characterization, water-state analysis, and multi-omics data, this study provides a systematic understanding of the formation of GE quality attributes under different processing methods, offering a theoretical basis for quality control and process optimization.

Nanorana quadranus (Liu, Hu & Yang, 1960) is a high‐altitude amphibian species native to the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. It plays a vital role in alpine wetland ecosystems and is listed as near threatened (NT) in the IUCN Red List. Here, we present the first complete mitogenome of N. quadranus using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform. The total length of the mitogenome is 20,173 bp (Accession No. PV546862). It encompasses 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), 21 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one control region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that N. quadranus forms a clade with N. taihangnica , supporting its taxonomic placement within the Dicroglossidae family. This study provides foundational genetic data for further research on the evolution and conservation of this species.