Thursday, April 23, 2015
Seal Placentas Aid in Conservation Efforts
A recent article in Scientific American discusses the new importance found in seal placentas. Recent research has displayed that seal placentas are very effective in genetic research, showing the amount of inbreeding and even the gender of the offspring. This method of collection allows conservationists to collect DNA samples easier, with no risk to themselves or the seals being studied.
Seals are being monitored for inbreeding due to the occurrence of a small gene pool. When an animal becomes endangered, a limited amount of breeding choices result in a much greater risk of inbreeding within the population. Scientists wish to observe inbreeding to gain a better understanding of the risks involved with extremely endangered species.
A group of Finnish researchers collected several placentas from the extremely rare Saimaa ringed seals. Material extracted from the side of the placenta attached to the uterine lining contained DNA from the mother, while the side connected to the fetus gave DNA from the offspring. The sample of collected placentas exhibited the expected low amount of genetic diversity.With only an estimated number of three hundred seals remaining in the wild, inbreeding becomes a very critical issue. Unfortunately, this collection technique can not be applied to most mammals because the vast majority exhibit placentophagia, or eating the placenta after the birthing process.
Labels:
Conservation,
endangered species,
gene pool,
inbreeding,
seal placentas,
seals
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This is very interesting information, it seems that this will give some insight into endangered seal populations. However, with this information I'm not sure what they will do for these seal, but I hope that it will help in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteInbreeding in a small population of animals can be dangerous to their survival. When inbreeding the genetic variation become nonexistent and the genes that get passed on might not be the best ones. This study is an interesting way to help collect DNA from the seals without actually disturbing their day to day life.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool way to observe inbreeding of species. Even though it cant be used on most mammals the concept itself is interesting. I hope we can help prevent inbreeding of the Saimaa Ringed Seals and help replenish the population of such a beautiful animal.
ReplyDelete