Biology Faculty Articles
Title
Conservation Genetics of the Cheetah: Lessons Learned and New Opportunities
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2017
Publication Title
Journal of Heredity
Keywords
Acinonyx jubatus, Cheetah genome, Indian cheetah, Population bottleneck
ISSN
0022-1503
Volume
108
Issue/No.
6
First Page
671
Last Page
677
Abstract
The dwindling wildlife species of our planet have become a cause célèbre for conservation groups, governments, and concerned citizens throughout the world. The application of powerful new genetic technologies to surviving populations of threatened mammals has revolutionized our ability to recognize hidden perils that afflict them. We have learned new lessons of survival, adaptation, and evolution from viewing the natural history of genomes in hundreds of detailed studies. A single case history of one species, the African cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is here reviewed to reveal a long-term story of conservation challenges and action informed by genetic discoveries and insights. A synthesis of 3 decades of data, interpretation, and controversy, capped by whole genome sequence analysis of cheetahs, provides a compelling tale of conservation relevance and action to protect this species and other threatened wildlife.
Additional Comments
Russian Science Foundation grant #: 17-14-01138
NSUWorks Citation
O'Brien, Stephen J.; Warren E. Johnson; Carlos A. Driscoll; Pavel Dobrynin; and Laurie Marker. 2017. "Conservation Genetics of the Cheetah: Lessons Learned and New Opportunities." Journal of Heredity 108, (6): 671-677. doi:10.1093/jhered/esx047.
ORCID ID
0000-0001-7353-8301
ResearcherID
N-1726-2015
DOI
10.1093/jhered/esx047
Comments
©The American Genetic Association 2017. All rights reserved.