Conservation genetics - saviors for endangered species

Conservation genetics are the new science which plays critical role in saving endangered species. They are useful when studying the history, biology and ecology of animals and are no need of killing or capturing animals since they use only small amounts of genetic materials.

The tammar wallaby used to be very common in South Australia, but the population decreased dramatically in late 1800s due to habitat destruction, predation and exploitation and the species was finally extinct from the mainland in the early 1900s. However this was not the end of the world for the tammar wallaby. Some of them still existed on some islands such as Kangaroo Island. They also existed in Nee Zealand because people released them. But since these wallabies had been separated from the mainland population for a long time there was a high possibility that there would be significant genetic differences from the mainland population.

The origin of the population in New Zealand was determined by comparing their genetic structure with that of the Kangaroo Island population and conservation genetics technique was used in this process. In the end they discovered that the population in New Zealand had been initiated with wallabies from the mainland population. Due to this great discovery they started to consider re-introduction of the animals to their original habitat.

Although these techniques still need further information to explain all the questions about animals, they are undoubtedly saviors for the species facing extinction.

Kano Shimizu


Primary reference: Conservation genetics – molecular detectives at work 1999, Australian Academy of Science, viewed 27 May 2008, <http://www.science.org.au/nova/044/044key.htm>

Secondary reference:
Conservation genetics 2008, The University of Utah, Genetic Science Learning Center, viewed 27 May 2008, http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/conservation/