lonesome george, desert tortoise conservation

[findi]

A Tortoise dies, taking his species with him (Lonesome George) http://nyti.ms/MuXz4f

Desert Tortoise conservation; little known facts http://bitly.com/R7LbG6

 

[bugmankeith]

Why couldnt they have taken his dna and implanted a related species to make a clone?

 

[findi]

Hello,

Good point, thanks. I recently heard noted turtle biologist Peter Pritchard speak on a similar topic. It seems there are a few possibilities...none simple or sure-fire, but all we have. Please check out this article for details:

http://www.newscientist.com/article...ge-dies-but-his-subspecies-genes-survive.html

Best, Frank

 

[Entomancer]

I posted a something in here about George...tortoises are such wonderful creatures. It saddens me that so many chelonians are in danger of a similar fate.

Great article as usual, Frank.

 

[findi]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, some progress lately but so much to be done, and very dim prospects for many, sadly. Well, we'll do what we can....

Stay well, Frank

 

[RS4guy]

I saw him when i was at the Charles Darwin center in the Galapagos, a true icon for preservation! He will be missed.....

 

[findi]

Great opportunity! ...yes, has drawn a great deal of attention, even from people who might otherwise not be too concerned. You, I and our "kind" will always be aware, but general interest stories such as LG are very valuable...also rare among herps, usually limited to "cute and fuzzies" and large mammals. Best, Frank

 

[Entomancer]

I saw him when i was at the Charles Darwin center in the Galapagos, a true icon for preservation! He will be missed.....

Argh, I'm jealous.

Part of the reason I was so sad about his death is because I really wanted to meet him; I, like everyone else, thought he would be around for a lot longer.

 

[pnshmntMMA]

i dont understand how they say hes DEFINITELY the last one. the researchers cant be in every place all the time. im a glass is half full kinda guy.

 

[findi]

i dont understand how they say hes DEFINITELY the last one. the researchers cant be in every place all the time. im a glass is half full kinda guy.

Hi,

Unfortunately, a well studied group of animals with a tiny natural range is involved, so all is fairly certain.

Other declared "extinctions", however, have proven to be based on inability to survey properly, poor field technique etc. I recall the story of the giant flying squirrel, an amazing creature over 3 ft long that glides from rock to rock high in the Himalayas; declared extinct .. not sure how this decided, as its difficult to find wild yak in that habitat, much less a shy, nocturnal rodent. one bright biologist went to a village within the species range, spread around some money, and had 3 squirrels within a day or so...people even used its crystallized urine, collected from beneath shelters, as a medicine, and turns out they are impt in the diet of local eagle owls!

Re tortoises, some genetic manipulation may offer at least some promise...please see this article http://www.newscientist.com/article/...s-survive.html
. Best, Frank

 

[pnshmntMMA]

Hi,

Unfortunately, a well studied group of animals with a tiny natural range is involved, so all is fairly certain.

Other declared "extinctions", however, have proven to be based on inability to survey properly, poor field technique etc. I recall the story of the giant flying squirrel, an amazing creature over 3 ft long that glides from rock to rock high in the Himalayas; declared extinct .. not sure how this decided, as its difficult to find wild yak in that habitat, much less a shy, nocturnal rodent. one bright biologist went to a village within the species range, spread around some money, and had 3 squirrels within a day or so...people even used its crystallized urine, collected from beneath shelters, as a medicine, and turns out they are impt in the diet of local eagle owls!

Re tortoises, some genetic manipulation may offer at least some promise...please see this article http://www.newscientist.com/article/...s-survive.html
. Best, Frank

thats interesting. i hope theyre wrong about the tortoise, but it sounds pretty grim. your link didnt work for some reason. but im glad there is hope in genetics!

 

[findi]

Hi,

Sorry ab the link...here's a related article, http://www.theaga.org/files/pdf/Ryan Garrick AGA poster.pdf

Best, Frank

 

[jayefbe]

There's actually a much better technique for identifying SNP markers than the one listed on that paper. Way cheaper and will generate more than enough markers for this type of marker-assisted breeding. Just a random off topic side note.

More on topic, given the incredibly long generation times of these creatures, I have to wonder if it's even feasible. And if it is, is it worth it? It'll take about 7 generations to have something 99% pure, and even then the genetic diversity will be so low that inbreeding depression could threaten to make them go extinct all over again. Something I'm sure the researchers are considering. It's much more complicated than what the articles are making it out to be.

 

[findi]

Thanks very much...I had posted a link to a more current article, but someone wrote in that the link failed, so I inserted this one. It is a bit out of date. But your points re generation time and the lack of diversity are applicable to the newer article as well. I heard Peter Pritchard speak on related topics this past March; despite all the attention garnered by this animal and the Galapagos Is in general, there are all sorts of political and financial constraints to the work,...but good, I think, that bright young geneticists and others are working on it...best, Frank