BT401 Handouts by VUBuddy

GENETIC RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION (BT401)

INTRODUCTION

Genetic resources (GRs) refer to genetic material of actual or potential value. Genetic material is any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity. Examples include material of plant, animal, or microbial origin, such as medicinal plants, agricultural crops and animal breeds.

Animals, plants, micro-organisms and invertebrates which are used for Food, Agriculture and Forestry are called Genetic Resources. Together with the components which fulfill agriecological functions they are grouped under the concept Agrobiodiversity.

Genetic resources for Food, Agriculture and Forestry include both wildspecies and domesticated forms. Reflecting the main areas of use–cropproduction, animal husbandry, forestry, fisheries and micro-organisms – they are grouped in

1. Plant genetic resources
2. Animal genetic resources
3. Forest genetic resources
4. Aquatic genetic resources and
5. Genetic resources of micro-organisms and invertebrates

Types of Genetic Resources

Genetic resources of field crops comprise crop species and their wild relatives, varieties, landraces, and genetic variation within the species. The genetic heritage of crops is stored in the different plant parts; seed and tissue. Plant genetic resources are used by farmers and scientists as the raw material for breeding new plant varieties and in biotechnology and are a reservoir of genetic diversity which acts as a buffer against environmental and economic change. Plant genetic resources constitute the foundation upon which agriculture and world food security is based. But many plant genetic resources which may be vital to future agricultural development and food security have been lost to us this century, and more are threatened. Country Reports written by 155 governments for the Leipzig Conference indicate that recent losses of diversity have been large, and that the process of "erosion “continues. Of major concern is the irreversible loss of genes, the basic functional unit of inheritance and the primary source of the variation in the appearance, characteristics and behavior among plants. " The diversity of life on earth is essential to the survival of humanity. The conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources is key to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability. It contributes to food security and poverty alleviation

The term animal genetic resources (AnGR) is used to include all animal species, breeds and strains that are of economic, scientific and cultural interest to humankind in terms of food and agricultural production for the present or the future. Another equivalent term increasingly used is farm animal genetic resources. There are more than 40 species of animals that have been domesticated (or semi-domesticated) during the past 10 to 12 thousand years which contribute directly (through animal products used for food and fibre) and indirectly (through functions and products such as draft power, manure, transport, store of wealth etc.) Common species include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, horses, buffalo, but many other domesticated animals such as camels, donkeys, elephants, reindeer, rabbits etc. are important to different cultures and regions of the world

Forest genetic resources (FGR) are the heritable materials maintained within and among tree and other woody plant species that are of actual or potential economic, environmental, scientific or societal value. They are crucial to the adaptation and protection of our ecosystems, landscapes and production systems, yet are subject to increasing pressures and unsustainable use. Conservation and sustainable management of FGR is therefore a must to ensure that present and future generations continue to benefit from forests and trees. Genetic diversity is needed in order to ensure that forest trees can survive, adapt and evolve under changing environmental conditions. It also maintains the vitality of forests and provides resilience to stresses such as pests and diseases

Aquatic genetic resource:

Aquatic genetic resources include all genetic resources living in water. By that we understand fish, cyclostomes, mussels, decapods, marine mammals, aquatic plants and all other water dwelling organisms that populate marine, coastal or inland waters, or are kept in aquaculture. Sea-water and freshwater fish, but also crustaceans, mussels and other seafood belong to the most important sources of protein for human consumption worldwide. As the basis of the fishing industry, they play, at the same time, a major role in socioeconomic terms. Particularly in developing countries local fishing and the related branches of production guarantee the income of a large part of coastal communities.

Invertibrate and micro organism genetic resources:

The term of "microorganism" as it is understood here encompasses fungi (example gratia mycorrhizae, edible mushrooms), yeast, microalgae, protozoa, bacteria, archaebacteria, mycoplasmas and viruses. Microbes play a critically important role in the cycling of nutrients in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems globally. Marine microbes are responsible for approximately