15. Modeling Problems in Conservation Genetics Using Laboratory Animals
261
in how recommendations for genetic management of endangered species should
develop.
Need for Experimental Evaluations of Theory in
Conservation Genetics
Experimental evaluation of conservation genetics theory is essential to determine
whether it applies in populations of real organisms. A cautionary tale of theory
that unexpectedly fell down in practice is selection index theory for simultaneously selecting several traits in animal breeding. This was predicted to be superior
to alternative methods (Hazel and Lush 1942) and was applied in chicken breeding without critical experimental evaluation in laboratory animals. Breeding companies who used selection indices to improve egg production stocks went out of
business. It was much later discovered (see Hill 1981) that there are statistical
problems in estimating the required parameters when there are many characters
and the data set is relatively small. Consequently, it is critical that theory in
conservation genetics be subject to controlled experimental evaluation.
Role of Laboratory Species
Endangered species are unsuitable for such research in conservation genetics
particularly because it may be unethical to risk the fate of an endangered species
on an untested procedure (although this has been done frequently). Consequently,
evaluations of theory and investigations of problems in conservation genetics are
best done by using laboratory animals and plants. Laboratory species are relatively common but have similar genetic behavior to endangered species, so that
the information gathered in laboratory experiments can be extrapolated to answer
questions and test hypotheses relevant to the endangered species. I first recognized the lack of laboratory animal studies in conservation genetics while preparing a paper on “messages from animal breeding for conservation genetics” in
1990 (Frankham 1992), and as a consequence, David Briscoe and I began systematic experimental investigations of problems in conservation genetics by using
Drosophila. Independently, Hedrick and colleagues began such work (Miller and
Hedrick 1993). Until then, the only experimental evaluation of conservation genetics theory had been done in the context of animal breeding, population, and
quantitative genetics (Frankham 1992).
Drosophila melanogaster is useful to model problems in conservation genetics
because of its short generation interval, low cost, the detailed knowledge of its
genetics, availability of innumerable stocks to aid genetic analysis, and its extensive use as a model for related problems in animal breeding, population
genetics, and quantitative genetics (Frankham 1982; Falconer and Mackay 1996).
Drosophila has proved to be a reliable model for naturally outbreeding diploid
261
in how recommendations for genetic management of endangered species should
develop.
Need for Experimental Evaluations of Theory in
Conservation Genetics
Experimental evaluation of conservation genetics theory is essential to determine
whether it applies in populations of real organisms. A cautionary tale of theory
that unexpectedly fell down in practice is selection index theory for simultaneously selecting several traits in animal breeding. This was predicted to be superior
to alternative methods (Hazel and Lush 1942) and was applied in chicken breeding without critical experimental evaluation in laboratory animals. Breeding companies who used selection indices to improve egg production stocks went out of
business. It was much later discovered (see Hill 1981) that there are statistical
problems in estimating the required parameters when there are many characters
and the data set is relatively small. Consequently, it is critical that theory in
conservation genetics be subject to controlled experimental evaluation.
Role of Laboratory Species
Endangered species are unsuitable for such research in conservation genetics
particularly because it may be unethical to risk the fate of an endangered species
on an untested procedure (although this has been done frequently). Consequently,
evaluations of theory and investigations of problems in conservation genetics are
best done by using laboratory animals and plants. Laboratory species are relatively common but have similar genetic behavior to endangered species, so that
the information gathered in laboratory experiments can be extrapolated to answer
questions and test hypotheses relevant to the endangered species. I first recognized the lack of laboratory animal studies in conservation genetics while preparing a paper on “messages from animal breeding for conservation genetics” in
1990 (Frankham 1992), and as a consequence, David Briscoe and I began systematic experimental investigations of problems in conservation genetics by using
Drosophila. Independently, Hedrick and colleagues began such work (Miller and
Hedrick 1993). Until then, the only experimental evaluation of conservation genetics theory had been done in the context of animal breeding, population, and
quantitative genetics (Frankham 1992).
Drosophila melanogaster is useful to model problems in conservation genetics
because of its short generation interval, low cost, the detailed knowledge of its
genetics, availability of innumerable stocks to aid genetic analysis, and its extensive use as a model for related problems in animal breeding, population
genetics, and quantitative genetics (Frankham 1982; Falconer and Mackay 1996).
Drosophila has proved to be a reliable model for naturally outbreeding diploid