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Species conservation poised to benefit from DNA advances

Date:
February 24, 2014
Source:
University of York
Summary:
An international team has shown that advanced DNA sequencing technologies can be used to accurately measure the levels of inbreeding in wild animal populations. Laboratory studies show that inbreeding reduces fitness. However, studying the impact of inbreeding in wild populations has previously been challenging because this requires a detailed family tree. New research using high throughput sequencing, generating more than 10,000 genetic markers, has assessed inbreeding in a captive mouse population as well as in wild harbour seals, showing that in some species inbreeding in the wild may be a bigger problem than previously thought.
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A biologist at the University of York is part of an international team which has shown that advanced DNA sequencing technologies can be used to accurately measure the levels of inbreeding in wild animal populations.

The research by senior author Dr Kanchon Dasmahapatra, of the Department of Biology at York, and led by Dr Joseph Hoffman, of the Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Germany, may help efforts to conserve rare species.

Laboratory studies show that inbreeding reduces fitness. However, studying the impact of inbreeding in wild populations has previously been challenging because this requires a detailed family tree. Previous DNA studies trying to establish the link between inbreeding and fitness in wild animals had limited success as they used only a small number of genetic markers -- around 10.

But the new research, published in PNAS, has used high throughput sequencing, generating more than 10,000 genetic markers, to assess inbreeding in a captive mouse population as well as in wild harbour seals.

Using a zoo population of mice with a known family tree, the researchers first checked the validity of their method for measuring inbreeding. They then carried out autopsies and took DNA samples from harbour seals stranded on Dutch beaches. The study revealed that inbred individuals were more likely to suffer from lung parasite infection.

Dr Hoffman said: "We have shown that in some species inbreeding in the wild may be a bigger problem than previously thought."

Dr Dasmahapatra explained: "This technique can be used to establish if there is an inbreeding problem in wild populations so that possible remedial action can be taken."

The study included scientists from University College London, the British Antarctic Survey, Erasmus University and Utrecht University in The Netherlands, CNRS Montpellier, France, and Chicago Zoological Society, USA.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of York. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Joseph I. Hoffman, Fraser Simpson, Patrice David, Jolianne M. Rijks, Thijs Kuiken, Michael A. S. Thorne, Robert C. Lacy, and Kanchon K. Dasmahapatra. High-throughput sequencing reveals inbreeding depression in a natural population. PNAS, February 2014 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1318945111

Cite This Page:

University of York. "Species conservation poised to benefit from DNA advances." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 February 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140224171328.htm>.
University of York. (2014, February 24). Species conservation poised to benefit from DNA advances. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140224171328.htm
University of York. "Species conservation poised to benefit from DNA advances." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140224171328.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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