- Psst, wanna save some seeds? Maybe do a little breeding on the side. USDA has some sites for you. NSFW.
- Patrick grafts citrus — after, er, sidestepping genebank authorization hell.
- Got an article on Best Practices in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Development? JAFSCD wants it.
- Scanwiches. Really. Diversity in bread. h/t Cleek. (Hey, it’s a slowish day.)
- Backyard chickens: an art, a science, a social movement. An exhibition. At cornell.
Nibbles: Kew web, Turkeys, Sugar, Climate, Law
- RBG Kew launches new website. Busy, busy, busy.
- Turkeys domesticated twice, neither time in Turkey. Gobble, gobble.
- Warmer-than-expected weather hits Thai sugar production. Sweet.
- Climate shocks hit poor countries’ exports. Shocked. h/t Cecilia.
- Biodiversity law could stymie research,” and that’s all I know, because the rest is behind a paywall. Access and benefit share THIS!
Cracking the code of dog diversity
Another contribution from Michael Kubisch.
Ever wondered why your rat terrier looks so different from your neighbor’s mastiff? Well, eons of selective breeding, of course, which have resulted in genetic differences between these two and other dog breeds. Man’s best friend was undoubtedly among the very first animals to be domesticated, although the huge variety of breeds found today is probably a much more recent phenomenon. Which part of the dog genome, or more pertinently which genes, were involved in generating this diversity remains largely a mystery — but one that many geneticists would like to solve.
A first glimpse has now been provided by a group of scientists who compared genomic data from dogs belonging to ten different breeds using what is called single-nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs for short. SNPS are very helpful because the presence of a particular SNP sometimes is indicative of the presence of a specific allele at a nearby gene. Similarly, if there are SNPs that differ between two dog breeds it is possible that nearby genes may be different as well and that those genes may have played a role in what sets these breeds apart.
The study revealed 150 areas of the dog genome containing more than 1000 candidate genes that appeared highly variable between those breeds that were examined. Not surprisingly perhaps, several of these genes are known to determine things like coat color, size, skeletal morphology and behavior. However, interestingly, several candidates included genes that are known to act as regulators of other genes, suggesting that some evolutionary changes are not the result of variant alleles of genes but changes in how these genes are controlled. More interesting insights are sure to follow.
Goats in peril
A plea arrives from Australia, concerning the goats of Middle Percy Island, a paradisiacal spot off the coast of Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef. These goats, it seems, are the descendants of animals released on the islands 200 years ago to provision passing sailors. They still do. The thousands of “yachties” who drop anchor at Middle Percy each year could buy expertly tanned goat skins and stock up on goat stew (and other goodies) all prepared by the people who hold the lease on Middle Percy. In a few weeks, however, the lease is due to revert to Queensland’s Department of Environment and Resource Management. They have apparently threatened to cull all the goats (although there’s nothing about that on the DERM website) or maybe all the goats except those that can survive on 140 Ha of the island.
“These goats need to be protected or domesticated — not annihilated” says my informant. “They have lived in the tropics and have foraged for themselves for two centuries.” As a result, “the genetic heritage among this small goat population which, by its very isolation, could potentially be crucial in providing genetic traits to goat populations in tropical Third world countries in need of calcium” could vanish.
Is that true? I simply don’t know. The history and current status of Middle Percy Island is complicated enough without even bringing the goats on board. Get into the livestock and it becomes more complicated still. The first European explorer, Matthew Flinders, noted “no marsupials were inhabiting Middle Percy Island” when he was there in 1802, and he is believed to have left behind the first of the goats. Subsequently settlers on the island brought their own herds, probably Saanen and British Alpine types. In the 1920s a herd of 2000 sheep was established. And in 1996 a senior BBC producer noted sheep, kangaroos, a solitary emu and a small herd of Indian cattle in addition to the goats.
One of the current leaseholders says they “have identified a variety of different types of goat, which seem to breed true to form; Cashmere, Saanen, British-Alpine, Australian All-black the Melaan, and possibly Toggenburg and an All-brown goat.” It would indeed be interesting if all these types were maintaining their distinctive looks despite their freedom to choose their own mates.
Will the Department of Environment and Resource Management really try to annihilate all the interloper species, including fruits and vegetables and bees and poultry brought in to sustain the settlers? Or have they just got it in for the goats? Could the goats be managed to keep populations at a level low enough not to damage the environment? Would those population levels preserve the genetic diversity of the goats? And is that diversity important anyway?
Lots of questions, no answers. But at least the questions are now being asked, and if answers are forthcoming we’ll be sure to bring them into the conversation.
FAO publishes two key animal genetic resources references
Our FAO animal genetic resources colleagues have been busy. From DAD-Net, news of “Breeding strategies for sustainable management of animal genetic resources:”
Genetic improvement is an essential component of the management of animal genetic resources and can make important contributions to food security and rural development. Yet, the majority of developing countries have not been successful in sustaining breed development programmes. The objective of these guidelines is to help countries plan and develop effective genetic improvement programmes and to maximize the chances that such programmes will be sustained. They are intended for use by policy-makers and organizations involved in livestock development. They provide practical advice on how to identify livestock development objectives and strategies and define breeding objectives that are in line with them, match animal genetic resources to production systems and identify the most appropriate breeding scheme, initiate or improve straight-breeding or cross-breeding programmes and evaluate investment decisions.
And, once you’ve managed the beasts sustainably, of course you need to market them: Adding value to livestock diversity – Marketing to promote local breeds and improve livelihoods.