Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics (American Museum of Natural History, Center for Biodiversity Conservation, Series on Biodiversity)

Genome sequencing enables scientists to study genes over time and to test the genetic variability of any form of life, from bacteria to mammals. Thanks to advances in molecular genetics, scientists can now determine an animal's degree of inbreeding or compare genetic variation of a captive species to wild or natural populations. Mapping an organism's genetic makeup recasts such terms as biodiversity and species and enables the conservation of rare or threatened species, populations, and genes. By introducing a new paradigm for studying and preserving life at a variety of levels, genomics offers solutions to previously intractable problems in understanding the biology of complex organisms and creates new tools for preserving the patterns and processes of life on this planet. Featuring a number of high-profile researchers, this volume introduces the use of molecular genetics in conservation biology and provides a historical perspective on the opportunities and challenges presented by new technologies. It discusses zoo-, museum-, and herbarium-based biological collections, which have expanded over the past decade, and covers the promises and problems of genomic and reproductive technology. The collection concludes with the philosophical and legal issues of conservation genetics and their potential effects on public policy. The Expansion Of Conservation Genetics / Rob Desalle And George Amato -- Conservation Genetics And The Extinction Crisis : A Perspective / William Conway -- Moving Toward A More Integrated Approach / George Amato -- Neutral, Detrimental, And Adaptive Variation In Conservation Genetics / Philip W. Hedrick -- Stopping Evolution : Genetic Management Of Captive Populations / Robert C. Lacy -- The Emerging Theme Of Ocean Neighborhoods In Marine Conservation / Stephen R. Palumbi -- Genetic Data And The Interpretation Of Restoration Priorities Of The Cicindela Dorsalis Say Complex (coleoptera: Carabidae) : The Components Of Conservation Genetics Revisited / Paul Z. Goldstein -- Range Collapse, Population Loss, And The Erosion Of Global Genetic Resources / James P. Gibbs -- Biodiversity, Conservation, And Genetic Resources In Modern Museum And Herbarium Collections / Robert Hanner, Angélique Corthals, And Rob Desalle -- Banking Of Genetic Resources : The Frozen Zoo At The San Diego Zoo / Leona G. Chemnick, Marlys L. Houck, And Oliver A. Ryder -- The Role Of Cryopreserved Cell And Tissue Collections For The Study Of Biodiversity And Its Conservation / Vitaly Volobouev -- The Silent Biodiversity Crisis : Loss Of Genetic Resource Collections / Deborah L. Rogers ... [et Al.] -- Who Owns The Ark, And Why Does It Matter? / Cathi Lehn ... [et Al.] -- Conservomics? : The Role Of Genomics In Conservation Biology / George Amato And Rob Desalle -- Genomics And Conservation Genetics / Judith A. Blake -- Crop Transgenes In Natural Populations / Norman C. Ellstrand -- The Role Of Assisted Reproduction In Animal Conservation / Anne Mclaren -- Conservation And Cloning : The Challenges / Ian Wilmut And Lesley Paterson -- Can Our Laws Accommodate The New Conservation Genetics? / Gerald J. Flattmann Jr., Barbara A. Ruskin, And Nicholas Vogt -- The Import Of Uncertainty / Sandra D. Mitchell. Edited By George Amato ... [et Al.]. Based On Papers From Two Symposia, One Held In San Diego And Sponsored By The San Diego Zoological Park, And The Other Held In New York And Sponsored By The Wildlife Conservation Society And The American Museum Of Natural History Center For Biodiversity And Conservation. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The expansion of conservation genetics / Rob DeSalle and George Amato Conservation genetics and the extinction crisis : a perspective / William Conway Moving toward a more integrated approach / George Amato Neutral, detrimental, and adaptive variation in conservation genetics / Philip W. Hedrick Stopping evolution : genetic management of captive populations / Robert C. Lacy The emerging theme of ocean neighborhoods in marine conservation / Stephen R. Palumbi Genetic data and the interpretation of restoration priorities of the Cicindela dorsalis Say complex (Coleoptera, Carabidae) : the components of conservation genetics revisited / Paul Z. Goldstein Range collapse, population loss, and the erosion of global genetic resources / James P. Gibbs Biodiversity, conservation, and genetic resources in modern museum and herbarium collections / Robert Hanner, Angelique Corthals, and Rob DeSalle Banking of genetic resources : the frozen zoo at the San Diego Zoo / Leona G. Chemnick, Marlys L. Houck, and Oliver A. Ryder The role of cryopreserved cell and tissue collections for the study of biodiversity and its conservation / Vitaly Volobouev The silent biodiversity crisis : loss of genetic resource collections / Deborah L. Rogers ... [et al.] Who owns the ark, and why does it matter? / Cathi Lehn ... [et al.] Conservomics? : the role of genomics in conservation biology / George Amato and Rob DeSalle Genomics and conservation genetics / Judith A. Blake Crop transgenes in natural populations / Norman C. Ellstrand The role of assisted reproduction in animal conservation / Anne McLaren Conservation and cloning : the challenges / Ian Wilmut and Lesley Paterson Can our laws accommodate the new conservation genetics? / Gerald J. Flattmann Jr., Barbara A. Ruskin, and Nicholas Vogt The import of uncertainty / Sandra D. Mitchell.