Sunday, November 18, 2012

If humans actively promote certain genetics within a species to obtain a population with specific genes, does it still count as evolution?

The project one of our admins is working with currently is attempting to do just that. They are looking at strains of avian malaria, measuring immune responses of native Hawaiian forest birds, and obtaining genetic information on these individuals to attempt t
o mark specific genetic haplotypes that are more likely to be resistant to avian malaria. Captive breeding programs can then be put into place to breed individuals with desired genetics to release into wild populations and increase resistance to avian disease, hopefully helping these native birds to return to their historical ranges before human-introduced avian malaria.

Here is a study of the Hawaii Amakihi (pictured in hand) in relation to avian malaria showing that current populations are restricted by the disease: http://www.jwildlifedis.org/content/36/2/197.short
If humans actively promote certain genetics within a species to obtain a population with specific genes, does it still count as evolution?

The project one of our admins is working with currently is attempting to do just that. They are looking at strains of avian malaria, measuring immune responses of native Hawaiian forest birds, and obtaining genetic information on these individuals to attempt to mark specific genetic haplotypes that are more likely to be resistant to avian malaria. Captive breeding programs can then be put into place to breed individuals with desired genetics to release into wild populations and increase resistance to avian disease, hopefully helping these native birds to return to their historical ranges before human-introduced avian malaria.

Here is a study of the Hawaii Amakihi (pictured in hand) in relation to avian malaria showing that current populations are restricted by the disease: http://www.jwildlifedis.org/content/36/2/197.short

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