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New Tools for Wildlife Research. DNA: The Future of Wildlife & Fish Conservation in the 21st Century Dr. Christopher Kyle, Associate Professor, Forensic Science Department. Genomic Tools. Next generation sequencing (NGS)- masses of data generated time/cost effectively
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New Tools for Wildlife Research DNA: The Future of Wildlife & Fish Conservation in the 21st Century Dr. Christopher Kyle, Associate Professor, Forensic Science Department
Genomic Tools • Next generation sequencing (NGS)- masses of data generated time/cost effectively • Revolutionizing understanding of our natural world-personalized human medicine-beginning to extend to wildlife research • Move from correlative genetic patterns to causative relationships between genes and environment
Genome Sequencing Transcriptome • -tame and aggressive silver fox Mutation Analysis -differential methylation of brain DNA in queens and workers SMRT Sequencing -easier to put puzzle together -reveals unique cod immune system -sequence of extinct woolly mammoth
Adaptation to Wildlife Disease • Climatic changes altering disease mechanisms, introducing new diseases and disease vectors • Capacity for species to respond/adapt to rapid changes in environment? • Assist in developing management/ surveillance strategies for disease
Raccoon Rabies • Recent rapid spread of disease (0-60 years) • Few barriers to dispersal • -Much genetic variation at immune genes, more in south-Only weak patterns suggesting adaptation to disease
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) • viral disease of white-tailed deer, transmitted by midges that are expanding range northwards each year • clinical signs highly variable in nature and severity. EHD up to 2003
Needs for Success? Implications? • Understand capacity for species to adapt to changes to environment • Refines disease control strategies • Provide information for predictive, NOT responsive actions • Technology rapidly expanding, need for human resources to generate, analyze and interpret these data • Transferable/marketable skills-industry-medicine-conservation • Attract/keep highly trained individuals with permanent well-paid positions • Infrastructure – with funding for upkeep and personnel • University support for wildlife genetic initiatives to promote leadership in field • Continue to build on strong, successful OMNR collaborations