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Reproductive Biotechnology and Gene Mapping: Tools for Conserving Rare Breeds of Livestock
Author(s) -
Long JA
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01146.x
Subject(s) - livestock , agriculture , genetic diversity , genetic resources , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , diversity (politics) , geography , agricultural science , political science , ecology , population , demography , sociology , law
Contents Today’s livestock diversity originated from the wild ancestor species and was subsequently shaped through the processes of mutation, genetic drift, and natural and human selection. Only a subset of the diversity present in the ancestral species survives in the domestic counterparts. A 2007 report released by UN Food and Agriculture Organization ‘ The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources ’, compiled from surveys conducted in 169 countries, found that nearly 70% of the world’s remaining livestock breeds live in developing countries. The UN report was presented to more than 300 policy makers, scientists, breeders, and livestock keepers at the First International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources, held in September 2007 in Interlaken, Switzerland. The conference aims were to adopt a global plan of action for conserving animal genetic resources as its main outcome. In this paper, the current and potential contributions of reproductive and molecular biotechnology are considered as tools of conserving rare breeds of livestock.