Fuente: News releases - University of Sheffield
Expuesto el: martes, 29 de mayo de 2012 11:07
Autor: All news - University of Sheffield
Asunto: Damaging effect of inbreeding in birds vastly underestimated
| 29 May 2012 Destruction of bird habitats in the wild is forcing ever shrinking populations to inbreed putting the futures of whole species at risk, University of Sheffield scientists have warned.
The scientists, the first to analyse the effects of inbreeding on the early stages of development, discovered that inbreeding – when closely related individuals mate – led to up to 75 per cent of embryos dying; much more than previously thought. Dr Nicola Hemmings of the University’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences said: “Inbreeding is a huge problem for many bird species around the world, particularly critically endangered species with small population sizes. Our research shows inbreeding may have even worse consequences for species survival than previously thought. “Birds in the wild aren't choosing to mate with their relatives, but factors such as habitat loss can reduce the population size, which in turn can reduce the genetic variation in the population. “Over generations the population may become more and more inbred. This is bad because with less genetic variation, there's more chance of problems such as health defects.” Captive breeding programs and conservation hold the key to the survival of species and reduce inbreeding by avoiding pairing related individuals though introducing more genetic variation into populations; for example moving individuals from other populations. Dr Hemmings added: “Our study shows that the negative effect of inbreeding on survival is strongest during embryo development. In other words, death caused by inbreeding is at its highest during the embryonic stage.” The paper has been published in the journal Nature Communications. Additional information The University of Sheffield's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences The University of Sheffield These prestigious awards recognise outstanding contributions by universities and colleges to the United Kingdom’s intellectual, economic, cultural and social life. Sheffield also boasts five Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and many of its alumni have gone on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence around the world. The University’s research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls Royce, Unilever, Boots, AstraZeneca, GSK, ICI, Slazenger, and many more household names, as well as UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations. The University has well-established partnerships with a number of universities and major corporations, both in the UK and abroad. Its partnership with Leeds and York Universities in the White Rose Consortium has a combined research power greater than that of either Oxford or Cambridge. Contact For further information please contact: Paul Mannion
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