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Overview - Goals - Technology - Photos & References

Goals

The techniques of population genetics and molecular biology offer methods for developing conservation plans for species that are at risk of extinction (1). The application of population genetics to conservation work takes advantage of the wealth of early basic research performed in the laboratory to the characterization of genomic structure of dwindling species populations. The application of established population genetics to the conservation field is on several levels.

Genetic studies first attempt to characterize the amount of genetic diversity of a species on a molecular level and determine an estimate of heterozygosity (a measure of genetic variation within a population). Further studies may look at the pedigrees of existing populations, which allows assessment of mating success and correlation of certain genetic profiles with genetic relatedness and mating success. Armed with the data from genetics and other disciplines (epidemiology, reproductive biology, etc.), plans may be developed for setting up captive breeding matches or plans to introduce new diversity into the population, if possible. The genetic data also can be used to verify or correct taxonomic classification and to reconstruct natural histories for a population.

A number of the molecular techniques of population genetics are described in the following section, Technology (right arrowhead below).