PRACTICAL 6: Measuring Genetic Diversity Introduction Genetic diversity is the variation at the level of individual genes.

In a population it means that the population contains most of the possible alleles for each particular gene locus. More variation occurs, better the chance for at least some of the individuals will have. An allelic variant that is suited for the new environment will produce offspring with the variant and will reproduce and continue the population into subsequent generations. Genetic diversity is a level of biodiversity that refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is different from genetic variability. Genetic diversity also refers to any variation in the nucleotides, genes, chromosomes, or whole genomes of organisms. It represents the heritable variation that exists between individuals within population, between population within species and between species. Genetic diversity enable all populations to adapt to new environmental conditions and directly relevant to the chances of long term persistence of a population. herefore, it is importance for animal to have genetic variation in order to live a better live and even surviving in the environments. In this practical, as conservation agency which have enough funds to purchase and protect four wetlands orchids. !e needs to calculate the genetic diversity in the wetlands in order to maintain and kept the most genetic variation for future purposes. It also to make sure they have longer generation to live.

Objective: " o measure the genetic diversity within populations " o determine which populations to conserve Procedure: #. he allele frequencies in each population for the $ast % moving allele &p' and the (low % moving allele &q' is determine by counting number of alleles for individuals in each population. ). +. -. he genetic different between populations is measure. *s is calculate by multiplying )pq for each population. he expected hetero,ygosity of all populations is calculated by multiplying ) x the average p x the average q. he amount of local, within % population variation is calculated by using.

Fst / &Ht " Hs' 0 Ht.

1. he result is put into table below.

Result Allele re!uencies or Pterostylis isozymus Po(ulation ) Po(ulation & Po(ulation , "ast allele 20+3 #40+3 )50+3 p 3.)+ 3.53 3.42 #lo$ allele )+0+3 #)0+3 -0+3 q 3.22 3.-3 3.#+ average &.s' %&'p'q ) x 3.)+ x 3.22 / *+,3.-4 3.)+ #.350+ #.350+ / 3.+1

Allele re!uencies or Pterostylis polyzymus Po(ulation ) "ast allele #40+3 ( 3.53 #lo$ allele #)0+3 ! 3.-3 %&'('! 3.-4

Po(ulation & Po(ulation ,

#50+3 ))0+3

3.1+ 3.2+

#-0+3 40+3

3.-2 3.)2 average &.s'

3.13 3.-3 #.+40+ 3.-5

/'(ected 0etero1ygosity (Ht2 or Pterostylis isozymus (o(ulation ) (o(ulation & (o(ulation , average allele "ast allele 20+3 #40+3 )50+3 p 3.)+ 3.53 3.42 #.230+ #lo$ allele )+0+3 #)0+3 -0+3 q 3.22 3.-3 3.#+ #.+30+

re!uency /3.12 / 3.-+ &Ht' / & ' t0e average p ' t0e average q = 2 x 0.57 x average q = 3.-6

/'(ected 0etero1ygosity (Ht2 or Pterostylis polyzymus (o(ulation ) (o(ulation & (o(ulation , average allele "ast allele #40+3 #50+3 ))0+3 p 3.53 3.1+ 3.2+ #.450+ #lo$ allele #)0+3 #-0+3 40+3 q 3.-3 3.-2 3.)2 #.#-0+ / 3.+4

re!uency / 3.5) &Ht'/ & ' t0e average p ' t0e average q = 3.-2

#u33ary Pterostylis isozymus Fst / &Ht " Hs' 0 Ht / 3.-6 % 3.+1 0 3.-6 / *+&4 Fst 7 3.# and indicates great divergence between populations of P.isozymus Pterostylis polyzymus Fst / &Ht " Hs' 0 Ht / 3.-2 % 3.-5 0 3.-5 / *+*&

Fst 7 3.3# and indicates some divergence between populations of P..polyzymous 8opulations of Pterostylis isozymus are more divergent than populations of Pterostylis polyzymus. (o, the populations of Pterostylis poly,ymus are genetically similar to each other. Discussion $rom the data, we noticed that, the 8terostylis iso,ymus had the Fst 3.)6 which shown greater than 3.#, meanwhile 8terostylis poly,ymus had the Fst 3.3) where it9s shown some or little divergence between the populations it self. (o the populations of each species are different from each other. In order to have greater diversity of genetic within a population variation, the Fst collected must be higher than 3.# where it9s indicated great divergence between populations. o keep four of the wetland acquisition, I will choose the genetic which shown greater diversity between the populations. I will use the fund to conserve the wetland with great genetic diversity in order to have better populations. (o, I prefer to choose all the wetland from 8terostylis iso,ymus because it9s shown the greater diversity within the population. :ut I only will choose population # from the wetland 8terostylis poly,ymous because it shows the alleles having more different within the population. (o as the results, I will choose all the 8terostylis iso,ymus and pterostylis poly,ymous population # to be developed as an industrial site. ;thers than the genetic diversity, the things that I must also to think about are the endangered species and vulnerable species. It is because the species are too little in the environment and it shall be kept so that it won9t to be extinct from the ecosystem. :esides, I also would reali,e the quality of

environment of breeding site, population si,es and distribution into the account. It is because when the environment had been harm by human activity, the population might face bigger challenge toward the environment and the ecosystem around it might have chance due to the activity done by human. (o the population can no longer sustain in the environment and as a result it will die and cause the conservation to loss it funds. *aving a population with more genetic variation indicated that it is the better population that can sustain in the environment. It is also shows the population having better quality to adapt to the changes in its environment. he most suitable wetland to be conserves and developed is the wetland which shows the greater genetic diversity within the population. :ased on the reading of < rouble in 8aradise= by >ldridge &#664', the scientists maximi,e the genetic diversity in the re%introduced population by choosing animals from different islands. It is because the animals of the same species but from different islands have highly diverse population created. he animals from ?ust one of the islands had an identical profile where there are same and there are study shown island population tends to have less genetic variation. !hen they choose animal from an island only, it may cause effect when the animal get sick or strike by certain disease. genetic as they weak when against external treat. hose animals might come into extinct as all had the low genetic variation or having the same

Re erences
5oo6 Resources: @ampbell, A. A B Ceece, D. :. &)331'. :iology (eventh >dition. (an $rancisco. 8earson >ducation, Inc. Miller &)332'. Essential of Ecology Fourth Edition. @anada. homson

Internet Resources:

!ikipedia.&)334'. Genetic Diversity. Cetrieved ;ctober 5, )334, from *ttp.00en.wikipedia.org0wiki0GeneticEdiversity. 8aritsis, D. &)331'. Genetic Diversity in Ecosystem Management. Cetrieved ;ctober 5, )334, from http.00www.colorado.edu0geography0courses0geogE+-#)Es310notesE+2.htm *arrison, I., Faverty, M., B (terling, >. &)33-'. Genetic Diversity. Cetrieved ;ctober 5, )334, from http.00cnx.org0content0m#)#140latest0