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Hello. In this lecture, we will focus on the 
importance of genetic variability in populations

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of wild and domesticated animals, the conservation 
and management of genetic diversity, which is the

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field of conservation genetics. The lecture is 
part of module 2, Conservation and sustainable

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utilization of animal genetic resources. The 
creation of this presentation was supported by

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the ERASMUS+ KA2 grant as part of the project 
ISAGREED, Innovation of content and structure

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of study programs in the management of animal 
genetic and food resources using digitization.

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Currently, the analyses of complete genomes at 
the population level are becoming increasingly

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possible in many species. Adaptations and harmful 
variability in populations are being discovered,

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and the connection between genetic variability 
and phenotypic variability is being explored.

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New technologies for data collection 
and the use of genomic knowledge for

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the protection of biological 
diversity are being developed.

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There is an expected impact of genomic approaches 
on conservation efforts in the next decade.

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Topics include: Application of conservation 
genomics to endangered species;

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Detection of adaptations in populations; 
Use of eDNA (environmental DNA) approaches;

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Linking genotypes with phenotypes for 
conservation purposes; Detection and understanding

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of the effects of harmful variability; or 
Translation of research into conservation efforts.

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Genetic diversity is the fundamental source of 
biodiversity, which is defined as "any measure

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that quantifies the extent of genetic 
variability within a population" or

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"the actual composition of variability 
of organisms and species on Earth."

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Genetic diversity represents "the range and 
sum of genetic variability within or among

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populations," where the term diversity, which 
simply means a state of exhibiting differences,

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distinctions, or diversity, has gained an extended 
meaning that represents the sum of variability.

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature 
(IUCN) publishes a list of endangered animals and

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plants every two years. The basic categories are 
Vulnerable (up to 10% probability of extinction in

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100 years), Endangered (up to 20% probability 
of extinction in 20 years or 5 generations),

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and Critically Endangered (with a 50% probability 
of extinction in 10 years or 3 generations).

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IUCN publishes a list known as the Red List, which 
was established in 1964 as a source of information

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for possible conservation interventions. It is 
considered an indicator of the health of global

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biodiversity. Currently, it lists more than 41,000 
species that are threatened with extinction (28%

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of all evaluated species). In the case of mammals, 
27% are threatened, and for birds, it is 13%.

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The image shows the different levels of threat 
within the categories. Aside from categories

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that are not evaluated or have unusable or missing 
data, there is a category for evaluated species,

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which expresses the risk of extinction 
- ranging from least concern to extinct.

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In addition to species that are globally extinct, 
there are those that are extinct in the wild and

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regionally extinct. Species for which conservation 
approaches can be applied and population

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rescue attempts can be made are classified as 
vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

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Here we see selected species 
that are highly endangered.

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As we can see, their status is recorded here. 
Whether their population is constantly decreasing,

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as in the case of the banteng, wild yak, 
gaur, African wild ass, or bearded pig,

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or whether it is stabilized, as with the 
American bison and Asian wild ass. Or their

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population size is increasing, as is the case 
with the European bison or Przewalski's horse.

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Under the United Nations, the Food and Agriculture 
Organization, known as FAO, is included. It

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organizes the Domestic Animal Diversity 
Information System, also known as DAD-IS.

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Here, various information can be obtained, such as 
the situation of endangered animal breeds either

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globally or in specific regions or countries. 
When looking at the overall situation, there are

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1,871 populations of domesticated species and 
breeds at risk of endangerment on the planet.

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These are often local breeds. In the Czech 
Republic, 4 breeds are not endangered,

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while 23 breeds are endangered.
In Poland, 17 breeds are not endangered,

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while 100 breeds are endangered. And in 
Slovakia, 2 breeds are not endangered,

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while 16 breeds are endangered. The so-called 
SDG indicator, which assesses this degree of

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endangerment, is quite similar among these 
mentioned countries, ranging from 85% to 89%.

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Genetic variability in wild and domesticated 
populations is significant for their ability

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to adapt to a changing environment. It applies 
to both wild and domesticated populations,

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with domesticated populations generally 
having lower levels of diversity.

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Genetic variability in wild and domesticated 
populations is an important topic in biology.

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Domestication is a process 
in which humans have modified

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the characteristics of wild organisms for 
use in agriculture, industry, or society.

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Domestication and the intensity of 
selection have led to a reduction in

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genetic diversity in domesticated populations 
compared to their wild counterparts.

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Geneticists have identified low genetic 
variability as a problem in many species of

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wild and captive populations, including cheetahs, 
California foxes (Urocyon littoralis), American

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black bears (Ursus americanus), Asian lions 
from Gir Forest (Panthera leo), southern

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koalas (Phascolarctus cinereus), European 
bison (Bison bonasus), and others.

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This information can be used for various 
applications in the field of conservation

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and management, including determining population 
units, maintaining maximum genetic diversity in

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captive or wild populations, and predicting 
adaptive responses to environmental changes.

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Recent research indicates a high interest of 
scientists in functional genetic variability.

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Unprecedented rates of extinction require the 
efficient utilization of genetics, which could

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help preserve biological diversity. Several recent 
studies based on genomics and simulations argue

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that the field of conservation biology focuses too 
much on preserving the genetic variability of the

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entire genome and should instead concentrate 
on managing a subset of functional genetic

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variability, which is assumed to influence 
fitness. According to a study from 2020,

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high genetic variability is associated with a high 
level of adaptability to environmental changes.

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However, focusing conservation efforts 
on likely functional genetic variability

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will only be feasible occasionally, 
often misleading and counterproductive

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if prioritized over the genetic 
variability of the entire genome.

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Given the increasing pace of habitat 
loss and other environmental changes,

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failure to recognize the harmful effects of 
lost genetic variability of the entire genome

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on the long-term viability of populations 
will only deepen the biodiversity crisis.

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An increasingly significant problem is the 
sustainability of wild and domesticated animal

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populations. Genetic diversity refers to the range 
of different inherited traits within a species.

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Genetics helps us understand and reduce the 
risk of population and species extinction.

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It is important to preserve genetic diversity 
and the health of populations in the wild to

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maintain healthy ecosystems. The loss of 
biological diversity is a global problem,

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and human population growth has a 
significant impact on this loss.

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However, if we continue to encroach 
on natural animal habitats,

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even the best conservation genetics approaches 
will not prevent species extinction.

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And thank you for your attention.