Dolphin study reveals the genes essential for species' survival

MAY 24, 2019

by University of New South Wales

UNSW scientists have added to the growing body of research into genetic markers that are important for animal conservation.

Certain types of immune genes may be particularly important for the survival of dolphins, a new study by an international team of researchers that investigated genetic diversity of dolphin populations reveals.

Knowing which genes are essential for helping dolphin populations survive has important implication for conservation: it is often difficult to monitor changes in population sizes of wild animal populations, especially long-lived dolphins, who spend most of their time under water. This also makes it hard to detect whether these populations are threatened—so identifying genes that are essential for survival could offer an indicator for potential threats to the viability of populations.

"Genetic diversity is crucial for animals to adapt to a changing environment—for example, diverse genes can help populations defend against diseases and tolerate climate change—but not all genetic diversity is equally important," says lead author Dr. Oliver Manlik, who is an Assistant Professor at the United Arab Emirates University and conjoint faculty member of UNSW Science.

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