On 2019-07-08 17:22:54, user Anna Schwabe wrote:
In response to George Weiblen
George Weiblen wrote: We suggest that readers of this article might also consider reasons to question the central claim that NIDA cannabis is genetically closer to hemp than to marijuana.
We respond: In our sampling, NIDA was found to be genetically closer to the hemp-type samples than the marijuana-type samples. This was seen in multiple analyses. We do not claim that NIDA is supplying hemp for marijuana research, but we are confident that our analyses show that the research grade marijuana supplied by NIDA is genetically different from the retail marijuana samples analyzed in this study.
“Our results clearly demonstrate that NIDA Cannabis samples are substantially different from most commercially available drug-type strains, sharing a genetic affinity with hemp samples in most analyses.”
“…this study highlights the genetic difference between research grade marijuana provided by NIDA and commercial Cannabis available to medical and recreational users.”
Given both genetic and chemotypic investigations have concluded that NIDA is supplying product that does not align with what is available for consumers, our hope is that NIH, NIDA, and the University of Mississippi take this into consideration. Medical practitioners, researchers and patients deserve access to marijuana products that reflect the products available on the legal market.
George Weiblen wrote: First, the authors do not report the cannabinoid profiles of their samples, so it is unclear whether the NIDA samples are marijuana-type, hemp type, or intermediate, nor did they specify the batch number. The NIDA Drug Supply Program has materials available from all major varieties of cannabis.
We respond: The lack of inclusion of sample batch numbers was an oversight on our part. The “research grade marijuana” plant material samples were labeled as: <br />
1. High THC: RTI log number 13494-22, reference number SAF 027355.<br />
2. High THC/CBD: RTI log number 13784-1114-18-6, reference number SAF 027355.
One of the aims of the study was to determine where the NIDA samples fell on the genetic spectrum of Cannabis types. The phytochemical content was not considered in this study because it is widely known that phytochemical constituents change due to environmental conditions, which include age, storage conditions, and storage temperature.
Furthermore, the samples from NIDA were ordered and are labeled as “research grade marijuana”, which should need no further investigation into whether the samples received were indeed marijuana-type, hemp type, or intermediate.
George Weiblen wrote: Second, there is inconsistency between the individual-based metrics and population-based metrics. Statistics for population subdivision (Fst) and genetic distance (Nei's D) in Table 1 do not agree with Figures 1-4 in supporting the central claim. For example, the Fst values of the NIDA samples are more differentiated from hemp than they are from the three drug-type subclasses. According to Nei's D, the NIDA samples are more similar to "hybrid" and "indica" drug-types than they are to hemp. The authors point out that the small sample size (N = 2) of NIDA varieties in their study is not sufficient to accurately estimate population-level parameters so they emphasize the individual-based results instead. This represents a bias on the part of the authors, who could request more samples from the NIDA Program to improve their sample size.
We reply: The “populations” are not true populations per se, but rather are commonly referenced usage groups. Given the high degree of hybridization among these groups, we do not necessarily consider the six groups as unique and separate populations. Hemp and drug-type cannabis groups have consistently been found by several studies to be genetically separate, and we feel these may be considered populations, but the rise in cannabidiol popularity has led to the development of several lines that are hybrids between the two types.
There were only two types of Cannabis from NIDA because that is what we had access to through one of our co-authors. We are not opposed to incorporating more NIDA samples into our analyses if NIDA would like to provide them. However, we feel that the two samples we examined have an interesting genetic profile given this is what was supplied to researchers conducting marijuana research and will possibly inspire further investigation of additional material supplied by NIDA.
George Weiblen wrote: The authors place more rhetorical weight on the individual-based approach by devoting four figures to it. It also possible, however, that the greater number of similar individuals in the drug-type samples could exaggerate their separation from much smaller numbers of NIDA and hemp samples of individuals across all four individual-based metrics.
We respond: The drug-type and hemp-type samples are grouped as such because that is how they were presented. However, given hybridization levels and wide variation in THC/CBD levels, as well as over-reporting of these levels, we feel that, even though we grouped them as such, examining genetic relationships at the individual level rather than population level was appropriate for this investigative study.
In some cases, drug types fell out with the hemp type samples, and is likely an ancestral artifact given these analyses are among individuals within species. The opposite is not true of the hemp group- no sample designated as hemp had substantial genetic signal associated with the drug-types (<15%).
The individuals in the drug-type group are not all that similar in description, reported THC content, or genetically. We sampled a wide range of available strains and feel this appropriately represents the groups. We have 9 hemp samples (including ruderalis), 11 sativa, 14 hybrid, 10 indica, which is a good representation of each of these groups. The 3 CBD samples we expected to be hybrids of hemp and drug-types, which they were, and we feel although this group is small, we again reiterate the groups are artificial.
George Weiblen wrote: An even stronger potential artifact has to do with the microsatellite genotypes themselves as presented in the supplementary table. The hemp samples all have considerable missing data whereas no data is missing from the drug-type samples and the two NIDA samples have a large number of private alleles. It appears that most of the signal assigning the NIDA samples to hemp are due to alleles at only three of the ten loci. Complete microsatellite panels and preferably more NIDA samples are needed to evaluate the preferred interpretation.
We respond: We did not assume to assign the samples from NIDA as hemp, but rather made the observation and conclusion that the plant material supplied from NIDA labeled as “research grade marijuana” does not align genetically with marijuana available on the retail market. In fact, it is quite different, as indicated by the presence of private alleles. We are aware that there are three loci are contributing to the majority of the divergence between NIDA and drug-type samples. Considering that 3 loci represent 30% of our marker regions, this divergence is substantial. Private alleles are commonly used in population genetic studies to identify divergent groups. Although the inclusion of additional NIDA samples would be beneficial, additional sampling would in no way change the genotypes of the samples we have included in this study.
Regarding the missing data, we are attempting another round of reruns to fill in some of the missing data, some of which we have retrieved. We will include this data prior to publication.
Anna Schwabe and Mitchell McGlaughlin, University of Northern Colorado