Conservation Biology Genetic Diversity (Lecture 3)

Genetic Diversity

The number of genetic characteristics (in a population)

Why is GD important?

• Directly relevant to species survival

  • Allows a species to adapt to changing environment (natural selection)

  • Avoid inbreeding depression

Translocation

Moving individuals from one lcoation to another

Nuclear DNA

• Instructions for protein synthesis

• Directly related to fitness

• Composed of 4 different base pairs joined by hydrogen bonds

What is DNA contained in?

Chromosomes

Genes

DNA sequences that code for specific proteins that determine some trait or characteristic

Alleles

Different versions of the some gene (either captial or lowercase)

Gene Pool

Total array of genes and alleles in a population, species, etc.

Genotype

The particular combination of alleles that an individual possesses

Phenotype

The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics that result from an individual’s genotype in that particular moment.

Mutation

A small change in the order of base pairs

What are 2 important factors when considering allele diversity

1. The number of polymorphic genes - genes that have more than 1 allele

2. The number of alleles that exist for those polymorphic genes

Factors influencing G.D.

1. Population Size

2. Life history patters, behavior

3. Historic changes in population

4. Mutation Rate

5. Genetic Drift

Gene Flow

The exchange of alleles between populations

Genetic Drift

Loss of alleles due to non-selective processes (random)

Polymorphism

The proportion of genes in a population that are polymorphic (have multiple alleles)

Mean heterozygosity

The proportion of genes for which the average individual is heterozygous for