Use of genetic makers and differential evolution for rational decisions in conservation of purebred animals
2001
Napaphan Chaiwong(King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Agricultural Technology. Dept. of Animal Production Technology)
Approach to balancing genetic diversity (Diversity) and genetic merit (Merit) in animal conservation programs is presented and illustrated by simulated example. Microsatellite markers are used to characterize the genetic variation among animals selected to join a conservation program. This is done by consideration of genetic variation within and between breeds at the marker loci. Perceived mean merit of the breeds is also considered. A weighting factor balancing Diversity and Merit is varied to give a range of possible outcomes. The resulting frontier of diversity and merit combinations is characteristic of the total animal resource, measurements made on it and the size of the conservation program. It is suggested that practitioners choose an appropriate solution from this frontier. Extension of the method seems possible to help make decisions on factors such as rationalizing breeds via crossbreeding and investment in conservation facilities.
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