Washington [US], June 6 (ANI): Researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Norwich and Lund have shown that harmful mutations found in DNA play an important but still neglected role in conservation and translocation programs for endangered species.
“Many species are threatened with extinction, both locally and globally. For example, we have lost about ten vertebrate species in Sweden in the last century.
But all these species occur elsewhere in Europe, which means that they can be reintroduced in Sweden. Our computer simulations show how we could theoretically maximize the success of such restorations, says Bengt Hansson, biologist at Lund University.
In a new study published in Science, the researchers examined which individuals may be most suitable for translocation to new populations. To date, conservation geneticists have chosen to select the most genetically variable individuals.
However, the authors argue that it is important to consider the type of genetic variation that is being moved around. Using computer simulations, they showed that harmful mutations found in the genome of translocated individuals can cause problems in future generations. This so-called “mutation burden” could jeopardize the viability of the new population in the long run and eventually lead to extinction.
According to Hansson and van Oosterhout, a geneticist at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, who led the study, the best choice is to exclude individuals with many harmful mutations, while selecting individuals from several different source populations.
“Active translocation of animals between locations is sometimes the last option for conservation biologists. By carefully selecting individuals based on their low mutation load, we can minimize the loss of fitness normally associated with inbreeding in small populations,” says Bengt Hansson.
Great advances have been made in DNA sequencing techniques, and whole genome individuals can now be sequenced for relatively low cost. This opens up new opportunities to improve the conservation management of endangered species.
“For many species of mammals and birds, we now know which mutations are harmful. Similar mutations also exist in humans, so we understand what they do, and therefore we know what to look out for when analyzing sequence data for these species,” he said. van Oosterhout.
The advantage of using DNA sequencing is that we can see these mutations in the genome, even if an individual carries only a single copy of the mutant gene. This means that we can choose against the bad mutations even before they cause a problem.
“Our computer model shows that this at least theoretically ensures the best probability for population survival. This can help conservationists select the optimal individuals for an endangered species for relocation to a new habitat,” added van Oosterhout. (ANI)