Tag

Conservation Genetics

All articles tagged with #conservation genetics

environment28 days ago•5 min saved

Fraser Island dingo cull sparks safety debate after backpacker death

After 19-year-old Piper James died on K’gari (Fraser Island), authorities culled a pack of ten dingoes to address public safety, a move that drew backlash for bypassing the traditional Butchulla owners and for not clearly reducing future risks. Experts warn that the island’s small, genetically isolated dingo population is vulnerable to extinction from mass killings, and past data show no clear safety gains from culling. The piece argues that changing human behavior—securing food, supervising kids, following park guidelines—offers a more reliable path to safety than lethal control.

via Gizmodo|

#conservation-genetics #dingo-cull #dingoes

science2 years ago•5 min saved

"Advancements in Resurrecting Extinct Giants"

Scientists are making progress in genetically engineering a version of the woolly mammoth, with the long-term goal of creating a living, walking elephant-mammoth hybrid to potentially help restore the Arctic tundra ecosystem. Colossal Biosciences has reprogrammed cells from an Asian elephant into an embryonic state, a crucial step in the process. The modified cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells, can be further manipulated to give an Asian elephant the genetic traits it needs to survive in the Arctic. The team also plans to engineer a mammoth with no tusks to prevent poaching. However, ethical and technological challenges remain, and the potential impact of resurrected mammoths on slowing permafrost thaw is still debated.

via AOL|

#colossal-biosciences #conservation-genetics #genetic-engineering

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Insights from Blue Whale Genes Challenge Inbreeding Expectations"

Genomic research on blue whale carcasses revealed surprising findings about the North Atlantic population, showing less inbreeding and more genetic variation than expected despite a history of industrial whaling. The study, published in Conservation Genetics, suggests that the long reproductive cycle of blue whales may have prevented a genetic bottleneck. With fewer than 3,500 adult blue whales remaining in the North Atlantic, the findings provide hope for the conservation of this endangered species.

via The New York Times|

#blue-whale #conservation-genetics #genomic-research