Maximization of total genetic variance in breed conservation programmes

The preservation of the maximum genetic diversity in a population is one of the main objectives within a breed conservation programme. We applied the maximum variance total (MVT) method to a unique population in order to maximize the total genetic variance. The function maximization was performed by the annealing algorithm. We have selected the parents and the mating scheme at the same time simply maximizing the total genetic variance (a mate selection problem). The scenario was compared with a scenario of full-sib lines, a MVT scenario with a rate of inbreeding restriction, and with a minimum coancestry selection scenario. The MVT method produces sublines in a population attaining a similar scheme as the full-sib sublining that agrees with other authors that the maximum genetic diversity in a population (the lowest overall coancestry) is attained in the long term by subdividing it in as many isolated groups as possible. The application of a restriction on the rate of inbreeding jointly with the MVT method avoids the consequences of inbreeding depression and maintains the effective size at an acceptable minimum. The scenario of minimum coancestry selection gave higher effective size values, but a lower total genetic variance. A maximization of the total genetic variance ensures more genetic variation for extreme traits, which could be useful in case the population needs to adapt to a new environment/production system.     

Marker-based estimates of between and within population kinships for the conservation of genetic diversity

In this article coefficients of kinship between and within populations are proposed as a tool to assess genetic diversity for conservation of genetic variation. However, pedigree-based kinships are often not available, especially between populations. A method of estimation of kinship from genetic marker data was applied to simulated data from random breeding populations in order to study the suitability of this method for livestock conservation plans. Average coefficients of kinship between populations can be estimated with low Mean Square Error of Prediction, although a bias will occur from alleles that are alike in state in the founder population. The bias is similar for all populations, so the ranking of populations will not be affected. Possible ways of diminishing this bias are discussed. The estimation of kinships between individuals is imprecise unless the number of marker loci is large (> 200). However, it allows distinction between highly related animals (full sibs, half sibs and equivalent relations) and animals that are not directly related if about 30–50 polymorphic marker genes are used. The marker-based estimates of kinship coefficients yielded higher correlations than genetic distance measures with pedigree-based kinships and thus to this measure of genetic diversity, although correlations were high overall. The relation between coefficients of kinship and genetic distances are discussed. Kinship-based diversity measures conserve the founder population allele frequencies, whereas genetic distances will conserve populations in which allele frequencies are the most different. Marker-based kinship estimates can be used for the selection of breeds and individuals as contributors to a genetic conservation programme.     

Genetic selection and conservation of genetic diversity*

For 100s of years, livestock producers have employed various types of selection to alter livestock populations. Current selection strategies are little different, except our technologies for selection have become more powerful. Genetic resources at the breed level have been in and out of favour over time. These resources are the raw materials used to manipulate populations, and therefore, they are critical to the past and future success of the livestock sector. With increasing ability to rapidly change genetic composition of livestock populations, the conservation of these genetic resources becomes more critical. Globally, awareness of the need to steward genetic resources has increased. A growing number of countries have embarked on large scale conservation efforts by using in situ, ex situ (gene banking), or both approaches. Gene banking efforts have substantially increased and data suggest that gene banks are successfully capturing genetic diversity for research or industry use. It is also noteworthy that both industry and the research community are utilizing gene bank holdings. As pressures grow to meet consumer demands and potential changes in production systems, the linkage between selection goals and genetic conservation will increase as a mechanism to facilitate continued livestock sector development.     

Using genome-wide information to minimize the loss of diversity in conservation programmes

We study here the effect of using genome-wide marker data versus genealogical data in population management for the maintenance of diversity in conservation schemes using optimal contributions. We re-examine the benefits of using molecular data for different population and genome sizes and compare different management strategies according to the group of individuals where we take decisions (parents or offspring). We also study the consequences of using estimated genealogical coancestries calculated from molecular information. Using genome-wide marker data performed usually better than using genealogical data or estimated genealogical coancestry to maintain expected and observed heterozygosity. Furthermore, when we could take decisions acting on the offspring, a larger heterozygosity was maintained than when we based our decisions on the potential parents.     

唐古拉山牦牛群体的母系遗传多样性及遗传结构分析

[目的]从分子水平上探究青海省唐古拉山牦牛群体的母系遗传多样性、群体遗传结构及其遗传背景。[方法] 对52头唐古拉山牦牛个体mtDNA D-loop区序列进行测定后,使用生物信息学软件分析确定其核苷酸变异位点和单倍型数目,计算单倍型多样度和核苷酸多样度大小,并进行系统发育分析。[结果] 在619 bp唐古拉山牦牛D-loop区序列分析中,排除2处插入（缺失）后共检测到31处多态位点,包括单一多态位点5处和简约信息位点26处。根据序列间核苷酸变异共确定了13种单倍型,单倍型多样度和核苷酸多样度分别为0.821±0.043和0.007±0.004。与我国其他18个家牦牛品种和野牦牛相比,唐古拉山牦牛群体单倍型多样度和核苷酸多样度值均较低,表明该群体遗传变异较为贫乏,母系遗传多样性水平较低。以美洲野牛为外群,邻接法（即NJ法）构建的系统发育树结果显示：唐古拉山牦牛群体13种单倍型分布在A、B、C、D和E五种单倍型组中,且聚为2个大的母系分支（即I和II）,支系Ⅰ占比为77%,提示唐古拉山牦牛由2个母系支系组成,拥有2个母系起源且以支系Ⅰ为主。 [结论] 唐古拉山牦牛母系遗传多样性水平较低,由2个母系支系组成,以支系Ⅰ为主,推测其有2个母系起源。     

Effect of sire mating patterns on future genetic merit and inbreeding in a closed beef cattle population

Summary Alternative breeding strategies were simulated based on the population structure of the Tajima strain of Japanese Black cattle. An analysis of the population structure revealed that some sires up to 20 years of age have been used in Tajima. In addition, 95% of newborn calves were the progeny of only 20 sires, and their mating frequencies were significantly skewed. The current average inbreeding coefficient and founder genome equivalents of the strain were estimated to be 0.199 and 2.25, respectively. Average inbreeding coefficient is expected to reach 0.394 within 27 years. Thus, different breeding strategies were assessed for their effect on the level of inbreeding and average genetic merit. We compared strategies that (1) halve the sire service period, (2) double the number of mating sires and (3) lower the skewed sire mating frequency and optimize the frequency for weighted genetic merit and diversity. Reducing the service period yielded a 7.0–12.0% reduction in the rate of inbreeding while maintaining almost the same genetic gain. Increasing the number of sires resulted in a 19.3–21.3% reduction in inbreeding with a corresponding 1.6–8.4% reduction in gain. The rates of inbreeding from the optimized strategies decreased as the weight on genetic diversity increased. However, a strategy that emphasized only genetic gain yielded lower gain than other strategies because the strategy allowed only one sire to mate, resulting in reduced genetic variance and low accuracy of genetic evaluation. In contrast, a strategy with no emphasis on genetic gain when determining mating frequency resulted in reductions of 16.0% and 63.2% in genetic gain and inbreeding, respectively. The strategies examined here are easily applicable and can be expected to reduce immediate loss of genetic diversity.     

青海省同德牦牛群体的父系遗传多样性及遗传背景探析

[目的]为从分子水平上揭示青海省同德牦牛的父系遗传多样性、群体遗传结构和遗传背景.[方法]本研究对32头同德公牦牛使用5个Y-SNPs标记(SRY4、USP9]Y、UTY19、AMELY3和OFD1 Y10)和1个Y-STR标记(INRA189)进行PCR扩增、测序和分型,使用Bi-oEdit、Arlequin和Net...     

基于SSR标记的河南省狗牙根遗传多样性及群体遗传结构分析北大核心CSCD

应用SSR分子标记,对河南省15个居群共288份狗牙根材料进行遗传多样性及群体遗传结构分析,结果表明,10对引物共扩增出173条条带,其中163条为多态性条带,多态性条带百分率为94.29%,表明河南省狗牙根具有丰富的多态性。15个居群间的遗传分化系数为0.3857,即发生在居群间的遗传变异达到38.57%,大部分的遗传变异发生在居群内部,居群间基因流为0.7964,居群之间存在一定程度的基因交流。不同居群间遗传一致度的变化范围是0.746~0.964,平均为0.767。15个居群间的UPGMA聚类分析结果表明居群间没有完全按照地理来源进行聚类,遗传距离和地理距离矩阵之间的Mantel检验结果表明狗牙根居群间的遗传距离与地理距离之间无相关性。288份狗牙根材料之间的遗传距离为0.0173~0.5205,平均为0.3113,UPGMA聚类结果将所有材料分为3组。基于Structure软件的群体遗传结构分析结果表明,可将288份狗牙根材料分为2个亚群和一个混合型群体,与288份材料的UPGMA聚类结果基本一致,由此可判断两个亚群的遗传背景单一,混合型群体存在一定的种质基因渗透,遗传背景较为复杂。     

Analysis of genetic diversity and conservation priorities for six north Ethiopian cattle breeds

Genetic diversity and conservation potential of six indigenous cattle breeds of north Ethiopia was analysed based on 20 microsatellite markers using core set methods. Expected future diversity (assuming assigned extinction probabilities are valid for the next 20-50 years) were 0.988+/-0.011 and 0.980+/-0.010 with expected loss of diversity estimated at 0.02% and 0.74% of current level for the Maximum Variance Total (MVT) and Maximum Variance Offspring (MVO) core sets, respectively. Even though all breeds have contributed to current diversity levels, the Afar and Abergelle breeds only contributed 51% and 62% to the MVT and MVO core sets, respectively, while the Raya breed contributed only 6% and 1.5% to the MVT and MVO core set diversities, respectively. Moreover, prioritizing the six north Ethiopian cattle breeds using the conservation potential obtained from the MVT core set method seems reasonable considering the origin and migration histories of the breeds. Our results suggest that the total current genetic diversity of these breeds can be sufficiently maintained by designing a conservation strategy based on conservation potential of each breed from the MVT core set so that priority is given to lowering the extinction probabilities of breeds with high conservation potential to zero.     

Monitoring of genetic diversity in the endangered Martina Franca donkey population

The Martina Franca (MF) donkey, an ancient native breed of Apulia, was mostly famous for mule production. The breed was at serious risk of extinction in the 1980s following the decrease in demand for draft animals because they were increasingly replaced by agricultural machinery. Much has been done in the last few decades to safeguard the existing donkey breeds, but the situation remains critical. Successful implementation of conservation measures includes an evaluation of the present degree of breed endangerment, so the aim of this work was to analyze the demographic and genetic parameters of this breed to suggest effective conservation strategies. With a current breed register counting less than 500 recorded animals, the pedigree data set included 1,658 MF donkeys born between 1929 and 2006. Analyses were carried out on the whole data set as well as on a smaller one consisting of 422 living animals. Demographic and genetic variability parameters were evaluated using the ENDOG (v4.6) software. The pedigree completeness level was evaluated as well as the generation length, which was calculated for each of the 4 gametic pathways. This information was obtained from animal birth date records together with those of their fathers and mothers. The effective number of founders (f(e)), the effective number of ancestors (f(a)), the founder genome (f(g)), individual inbreeding (F), average relatedness (AR), and the rate of inbreeding per generation were analyzed to describe the genetic variability of the population. Because pedigree depth and completeness were appropriate, especially regarding the current population, the parameters defining genetic variability, namely, f(e), f(a), f(g), F, and AR, could be reliably estimated. Analysis of these parameters highlighted the endangerment status of the MF donkey. Our special concern was with the increased percentage of males and females exhibiting increased AR values. Moreover, the effective size of the current population, 48.08, is slightly less than the range of the minimum effective size, and the rates of inbreeding per generation found in the current MF population exceed the maximum recommended level of 1%. Such a scenario heightens concerns over the endangered status of the MF breed and calls for proper conservation measures and breeding strategies, such as selecting individuals for mating when relationships are below 12.5%.     

种群遗传变异及基因多样度分析

阐述了种群遗传学和生态遗传学研究的基本单位－种群的定义和意念含义,其一是种系变异含义,其二是生态适应含义,并概述了遗传变异的研究历史。从３个方面及质量性状变异,数量性状变异与基金变异,介绍了种群遗传变异的研究方法,重点介绍了基因变异的测量和亚种群基因多样度的测量,并且依据研究所得的遗传参数对中国苜蓿不同种群遗传结构和多样度进行了例证分析。     

An assessment of genetic diversity and population structures of fifteen Vietnamese indigenous pig breeds for supporting the decision making on conservation strategies

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The study aimed to characterize genetic diversity, genetic clusters, and phylogenetic relationships of 15 Vietnamese indigenous pig breeds across the country...     

Optimizing female allocation to reproductive technologies considering merit,inbreeding and cost in nucleus breeding programmes with genomic selection

Female reproductive technologies such as multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) and juvenile in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (JIVET) have been shown to accelerate genetic gain by increasing selection intensity and decreasing generation interval. Genomic selection (GS) increases the accuracy of selection of young candidates which can further accelerate genetic gain. Optimal contribution selection (OCS) is an effective method of keeping the rate of inbreeding at a sustainable level while increasing genetic merit. OCS could also be used to selectively and optimally allocate reproductive technologies in mate selection while accounting for their cost. This study uses stochastic simulation to simulate breeding programmes that use a combination of artificial insemination (AI) or natural mating (N), MOET and JIVET with GS. OCS was used to restrict inbreeding to 1.0% increase per generation and also to optimize use of reproductive technologies, considering their effect on genetic gain as well as their cost. Two Australian sheep breeding objectives were used as an example to illustrate the methodology—a terminal sire breeding objective (A) and a dual‐purpose self‐replacing breeding objective (B). The objective function used for optimization considered genetic merit, constrained inbreeding and cost of technologies where costs were offset by a premium paid to the seedstock breeder investing in female reproductive technologies. The premium was based on the cumulative discounted expression of genetic merit in the progeny of a commercial tier in the breeding programme multiplied by the proportion of that benefit received by the breeder. With breeding objective B, the highest premium of 64% paid to the breeder resulted in the highest allocation of reproductive technologies (4%–10% for MOET and 19%–54% for JIVET) and hence the highest annual genetic gain. Conversely, breeding objective A, which had a lower dollar value of the breeding objective and a maximum of 5% mating types for JIVET and zero for MOET were optimal, even when highest premiums were paid. This study highlights that the level of investment in breeding technologies to accelerate genetic gain depends on the investment of genetic improvement returned to the breeder per index point gain achieved. It also demonstrates that breeding programmes can be optimized including allocation of reproductive technologies at the individual animal level. Accounting for revenue to the breeder and cost of the technologies can facilitate more practical decision support for beef and sheep breeders.     

Assessment of genetic diversity and conservation priority of Omani local chickens using microsatellite markers

Designing strategies for conservation and improvement livestock should be based on assessment of genetic characteristics of populations under consideration. In Oman, conservation programs for local livestock breeds have been started. The current study assessed the genetic diversity and conservation potential of local chickens from Oman. Twenty-nine microsatellite markers were analyzed in 158 birds from six agroecological zones: Batinah, Dhofar, North Hajar, East Hajar, Musandam, and East Coast. Overall, a total of 217 alleles were observed. Across populations, the average number of alleles per locus was 7.48 and ranged from 2 (MCW98 and MCW103) to 20 (LEI094). The mean expected heterozygosity (H _E) was 0.62. Average fixation index among populations (F _ST) was 0.034, indicating low population differentiation, while the mean global deficit of heterozygotes across populations (F _IT) was 0.159. Based on Nei’s genetic distance, a neighbor-joining tree was constructed for the populations, which clearly identified the Dhofar population as the most distant one of the Omani chicken populations. The analysis of conservation priorities identified Dhofar and Musandam populations as the ones that largely contribute to the maximal genetic diversity of the Omani chicken gene pool.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity in Japanese Brown cattle population by pedigree analysis

The Japanese Brown is the second most common domestic beef breed in Japan. However, nowadays this breed is facing reduction in numbers because of pressure from a profitable domestic breed. This breed is uniformly characterized by its brown coat colour, but is comprised of two isolated sub‐breeds, Kumamoto and Kouchi, each possessing a different gene pool. Pedigree analyses were carried out for the two sub‐breeds using the pedigree records of animals born from 1970 to 2000. The effective population size has been found to be consistently reducing during the last three decades in both sub‐breeds. The current effective sizes were estimated to be 25.5 and 6.0 for the Kumamoto and Kouchi sub‐breeds, respectively. The estimate of the effective number of founders (N_ef) in the Kumamoto sub‐breed decreased from 152.1 to 74.4; that of non‐founders (N_enf), from 41.7 to 5.3; and that of founder genome equivalents (N_ge), from 32.7 to 4.9. The corresponding changes in the Kouchi sub‐breed were from 108.2 to 79.4, 16.2 to 4.1, and 14.1 to 3.9. Increasing differences between the two genetic diversity indices in the sub‐breeds indicate that the greater part of the reduction of genetic diversity can be attributed to genetic drift that accumulated in the non‐founder generations. A comparison with published estimates for several cattle breeds suggests the extremely limited genetic diversity of Japanese Brown. In addition to the avoidance of further reduction of genetic diversity, it will be important to counteract the process of breed decline by establishing a production system to efficiently utilize the unique characteristics of this breed and by developing links between the breed and products with market value.     

Noninvasive genetics provides insights into the population size and genetic diversity of an Amur tiger population in China

Understanding population size and genetic diversity is critical for effective conservation of endangered species. The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is the largest felid and a flagship species for wildlife conservation. Due to habitat loss and human activities, available habitat and population size are continuously shrinking. However, little is known about the true population size and genetic diversity of wild tiger populations in China. In this study, we collected 55 fecal samples and 1 hair sample to investigate the population size and genetic diversity of wild Amur tigers in Hunchun National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, China. From the samples, we determined that 23 fecal samples and 1 hair sample were from 7 Amur tigers: 2 males, 4 females and 1 individual of unknown sex. Interestingly, 2 fecal samples that were presumed to be from tigers were from Amur leopards, highlighting the significant advantages of noninvasive genetics over traditional methods in studying rare and elusive animals. Analyses from this sample suggested that the genetic diversity of wild Amur tigers is much lower than that of Bengal tigers, consistent with previous findings. Furthermore, the genetic diversity of this Hunchun population in China was lower than that of the adjoining subpopulation in southwest Primorye Russia, likely due to sampling bias. Considering the small population size and relatively low genetic diversity, it is urgent to protect this endangered local subpopulation in China.     

Anuran distribution,diversity and conservation in South Africa,Lesotho and Swaziland

The distributions of 96 anuran species in South Africa were mapped using published locality records, and the collections of the South African and Port Elizabeth museums. Centres of richness, endemism and Red Data Book (RDB) richness were identified, and compared with currently protected areas, using a geographical information system (GIS). Maputaland and the Kwazulu/Natal coast were identified as centres of species richness. Endemic ‘hotspots’ occur in the vicinity of Pietermaritzburg, Durban and Ihe fynbos region of the Western Cape, The Western Cape was also identified as a centre of RDB species richness. A large portion (95,8%) of South African anuran species are found in protected areas. The effective long-term viability of populations of many of these species within these areas, must be assessed. Currently four South African frog species are not found within protected areas. The Karoo biomes were identified as being under-represented, both in the species database and in the proportion of conserved areas. While a large proportion of the fynbos biome is contained in reserve areas, the low-lying fynbos habitats have almost disappeared as a result of urbanization and agriculture. Remnants of the sandy coastal fynbos and renosterveld veld types require urgent conservation. Several areas in the Western and Eastern Cape were identified as requiring additional research and conservation measures. A GIS proves a useful tool in the analysis of species distributions and the prioritization of areas and species for conservation. The importance of accurate collection data, for incorporation into species databases, and the regular publication of reserve species lists is emphasized.     

Enzyme structure,enzyme function and allozyme diversity in mammals: trends from South African population genetic studies

In estimates of population genetic diversity based on allozyme heterozygosity, some enzymes are regularly more variable than others. Evolutionary theory suggests that functionally less important molecules, or parts of molecules, evolve more rapidly than more important ones; the latter enzymes should then theoretically be less polymorphic. In this paper I review most of the published papers on allozyme variability in southern African mammals, and correlate heterozygosity values with enzyme quaternary structure and the perceived importance of enzymes. Results provide support for the hypothesis of a linkage between enzyme quaternary structure and diversity. No association between enzyme function and heterogeneity was, however, observed.     

环境因子对中国柽柳遗传变异的影响

分别以核糖体DNA(nuclear ribosomal DNA, nrDNA)的内转录间隔区(internal transcribed spacer regions, ITS)和两条叶绿体DNA(chloroplast DNA, cpDNA)片段—trnL-trnF, rps16为分子标记,研究了20个自然分布的中国柽柳群体遗传变异与环境因子和地理距离间的相关性。结果表明:ITS序列(616 bp)中共发现了10个多态位点,定义了11种单倍型;总核苷酸多样性和总单倍型多样性分别为2.170和0.814。两个cpDNA分子标记片段的拼接序列(1542 bp)中共发现了14个多态位点,定义了16种单倍型,总核苷酸多样性和总单倍型多样性分别为0.500和0.586。ITS遗传多样性与地理、气候和土壤因子间相关性分析显示:海拔、温度和经度是影响中国柽柳群体遗传变异的主要因素。在低海拔、温暖和靠海近的湿润东部群体,ITS遗传多样性较高。而cpDNA的遗传变异与各种环境因子间没有显著的相关性。Mantel检测发现中国柽柳ITS的遗传变异与地理距离显著正相关,而cpDNA的遗传变异没有显著的地理渐变趋势,该结果进一步揭示了中国柽柳强大的种子流在降低群体间遗传分化上发挥了重要作用。