09-10-2013, 01:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-10-2013, 01:58 PM by Administrator.)
Analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) has various useful applications.
Ancient DNA analyses of the remains that are paleontological, historical and archaeological can contribute significant information for the conservation of species and populations that cannot be obtained any other means. The integration of ancient DNA into conservation genetics upholds a lot of potential, if employed sensibly. The analysis of ancient DNA also has the capability to make important and unique contributions to the areas of evolution and ecology.
Ancient DNA (DNA that is retrieved from things long dead such as fossil bones, museum specimens or mummies) techniques are extremely helpful in studies of conservation and evolutionary genetics. Cautious application of these techniques has enabled scientists to calculate approximately the levels and patterns of genetic variation thousands of years ago in a species, and how this variation has altered over time scale.
Researchers can also utilize ancient DNA analysis to reconstruct or rebuild the evolutionary relationships of endangered and extinct animals, allowing us to better characterize the species and populations and their evolutionary distinctiveness. For instance in the recent times, by utilizing these methods, researchers found that the five types of honeyeater species that once lived in Hawaii are not practically the same as Australasian honeyeaters, but were a separate family of Hawaiian birds. Convergent evolution had occurred because of similar foraging habits.
Ancient DNA techniques have also demonstrated that they are very valuable for studies regarding wildlife disease. They can allow us, for instance, to find out when native host populations were colonized by invasive pathogens, changes in the gene composition of the vectors and even to assess coevolution that can occur between host and parasite.
There are lots of applications of ancient DNA methods towards the issues in conservation and evolutionary biology. Some of the ongoing important research involves and endangered and extinct Hawaiian honeycreepers, quaggas, black-footed ferrets, ivory-billed woodpeckers, Indian wolves, forest robin etc to mention a few.
Ancient DNA analyses of the remains that are paleontological, historical and archaeological can contribute significant information for the conservation of species and populations that cannot be obtained any other means. The integration of ancient DNA into conservation genetics upholds a lot of potential, if employed sensibly. The analysis of ancient DNA also has the capability to make important and unique contributions to the areas of evolution and ecology.
Ancient DNA (DNA that is retrieved from things long dead such as fossil bones, museum specimens or mummies) techniques are extremely helpful in studies of conservation and evolutionary genetics. Cautious application of these techniques has enabled scientists to calculate approximately the levels and patterns of genetic variation thousands of years ago in a species, and how this variation has altered over time scale.
Researchers can also utilize ancient DNA analysis to reconstruct or rebuild the evolutionary relationships of endangered and extinct animals, allowing us to better characterize the species and populations and their evolutionary distinctiveness. For instance in the recent times, by utilizing these methods, researchers found that the five types of honeyeater species that once lived in Hawaii are not practically the same as Australasian honeyeaters, but were a separate family of Hawaiian birds. Convergent evolution had occurred because of similar foraging habits.
Ancient DNA techniques have also demonstrated that they are very valuable for studies regarding wildlife disease. They can allow us, for instance, to find out when native host populations were colonized by invasive pathogens, changes in the gene composition of the vectors and even to assess coevolution that can occur between host and parasite.
There are lots of applications of ancient DNA methods towards the issues in conservation and evolutionary biology. Some of the ongoing important research involves and endangered and extinct Hawaiian honeycreepers, quaggas, black-footed ferrets, ivory-billed woodpeckers, Indian wolves, forest robin etc to mention a few.
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