Global Genetic Diversity Map

    Throughout history, maps have been used to represent many aspects of the animal kingdom, such as the range, regional mix, and species at risk. Now however, there is a new set of maps designed to show the distribution of genetic diversity around the world. These maps can help track loss of biodiversity and its cause in a certain region. As population geneticist Andreia Miraldo says, "Without genetic diversity, species can't evolve into new species," and "It also plays a fundamental role in allowing species populations to adapt to changes in their environment."

    Miraldo and her research team conducted an experiment in which they gathered geographical coordinates for over 92,000 records of mitochondrial DNA from 4,675 species of land mammals and amphibians. They compared the changes in cytochrome b, a gene used to measure genetic diversity within a species, and mapped the average genetic diversity for all species within areas of about 150,000 square kilometers.
   
    On the map above, the results show that the tropical Andes and the Amazon have high genetic diversity for both mammals and amphibians, which are shown in dark blue. The South African subtropical regions has high genetic diversity in mammals, while eastern North America has high genetic diversity for amphibians. Results also determined that genetic diversity is 27% higher in the tropics than in non-tropic regions. In conclusion, Industrialized cities and rural areas that are occupied by humans are shown to have very low genetic diversity than wild habitats, as shown in green and yellow. This implies that a lot of human activity could have a large impact on genetic diversity for other species. However, more research has to be done in this area in order to confirm these results and Miraldo hopes to learn more about how human activity and climate change affect global genetic diversity.

  I found this research topic very interesting because it can help us learn more about endangered species and how to save them from extinction. I also think that it can help us as humans to learn the harm and impact our actions have on other living organisms sharing our planet. I believe that it can perhaps prove that climate change is indeed happening and that it's negatively affecting genetic diversity around the world. And maybe when we accept this reality, we can start reducing pollution, deforestation, and over-hunting.

Links:

• https://www.sciencenews.org/article/maps-show-genetic-diversity-mammals-amphibians-around-world
• http://science.sciencemag.org/content/353/6307/1532.full

'Anti-malarial mosquitoes' created using controversial genetic technology

     There are currently mosquitoes being genetically engineered that do not carry the gene for malaria. Creating these mosquitoes is a step in ending the malaria disease which kills over 400,000 people per year. The mosquitoes have been tested and mated, and 99.5% of their offspring do not carry the gene for malaria. Although this sounds like a great idea, there are apparent "unpredictable ecological consequences" that we need to be aware of.

     I believe that this is a great step in the ending of this awful disease. Since this disease is more regionally based, I do no think the ecological consequence could be that detrimental. The disease itself already kills 400,000 people per year, so i do not see how it is not worth a shot. Diseases like this need to be taken control over, and if researchers think they may eventually find a cure, then they should do whatever they think will come close to finding a cure.

 Original Article
Related Article

Affects of Climate change on pine forests

     Climate and Genetics are not two things that are usually considered to be connected. However when it comes to Pine forests researchers have been investigating the impact that climate change may have on these forest through genetics. Typically computer models are used to predict which areas will sustain pine forests, the problem with this is that genetics and evolution are not taken into account when using these computer models. Genetics should favor trees with genes that allow them to withstand higher temperatures.

     The goal in this study was to identify genetic factors that could be incorporated into the future predictions. The researchers made a list of more then 300 variants in 200 candidate genes that affect the species' fitness in different climate conditions. This list was then sifted through to find genes more common in regions that had similar climates in hope that natural selection would be the reason why these genes were more prevalent in these areas. In total 18 variants had correlations with local climates; growth and response to heat stress happened to be influenced by genes that were affected. These variants were tested to see if they were important in the fitness of these trees. The results were that they indeed did prove to be beneficial in the survival rate of these trees in local climates of Spain.

     This research proves valuable to the future of forests, not only pine forests. A difference may be able to be made in protecting forests from climate change in the future. Further studies will have to be done with different species of trees, as all forests are not the same and may respond differently to fluctuations in climate. This study opens doors for further genetics research in the ongoing fight against climate change.

Article: Genetic data can help predict how pine forests will cope with climate change
Other Sources: Genetics and Trees


    

Endangered Turtles and the Genetics of their Sexual Behavior

NY Times & BBC. At the University of East Anglia, UK, Dr.David Richardson studies the elusive Hawksbill seaturtle and its mating habits. The female was found to take sperm from one male and fertilize multiple generations with it .This behavior of hoarding sperm is found in animals including reptiles, birds and various tortoises and terrapins. The females can store the sperm for an elongated period of time, thus the possibility of egg clutches being fertilized by multiple fathers. Dr.Richardson tested the DNA of Hawksbill hatchlings during the breeding season on Cousine Island. During their long 75-day mating seasons, the majority of their egg clutches were fathered by a single male. The males in the study did not fertilize more than one female. It came to a shock to the researchers because genetic monogamy is not nearly as common as polygamy.

These turtles tend to mate far away from shore where they search for food on the Western Indian Ocean. The study itself found a vast amount of males for females to mate with and not just a few individuals close to shore, as the scientific community once thought. This is good news since a higher degree of genetic variation ensures the future of its species. A high degree of variation means the population can bounce back from strange diseases or changes in the environment. However, this genetic superiority cannot protect them from human predators that hunt them for their shells. This endangered species are found in tropical waters around the world to lay approximately five clutches of eggs in their 75 day mating season. The DNA testing samples from the hatchlings gave researchers critical information to conclude that mating occurs far out at sea and that their numbers are steadily rising. Coupled with their decoded variability, the Hawksbill turtle is much better off than once thought.