Molecular Approaches To Genetic Diversity

In the last 50 years, combinations of conventional and molecular methods have made the genetic diversity a widespread science. Moreover, the issue of conserving genetic diversity as a component of the conservation of the environment has been raised at an international level. We hope that the current book will provide a glimpse into the dynamic process of genetic diversity by presenting the research of some of the scientists who are engaged in development of new tools and ideas in genetic diversity. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all authors who contributed to this book by sharing their valuable works with us.

We are entering a particularly fruitful period in evolutionary genetics, as rapid technological progress transforms the investigation of genetic variation within and between species. Molecular Methods for Evolutionary Genetics is a collection of advanced molecular biology protocols and general overviews intended to represent the essential methods currently bringing evolutionary genetics to fruition. Divided into six thematic sections, this volume covers methods for characterizing genomes, diverse approaches to enrich DNA for subsets of the genome prior to sequencing, and state-of-the-art protocols for sampling genetic variation for genetic mapping studies and population genetic studies (RAD sequencing, Sequenom, microarrays, etc.). The volume concludes by focusing on methods to study candidate genes, from obtaining their sequences and analyzing their transcripts to experimentally manipulating their activities in vivo. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and accessible, Molecular Methods for Evolutionary Genetics serves as a rich resource to biologists interested in evolution, whether they be specialists or beginners in molecular biology.

Intended for undergraduate and graduate students in conservation biology, natural resource management, and ecology, this book compiles compelling case histories in molecular ecology.

We are entering a particularly fruitful period in evolutionary genetics, as rapid technological progress transforms the investigation of genetic variation within and between species. Molecular Methods for Evolutionary Genetics is a collection of advanced molecular biology protocols and general overviews intended to represent the essential methods currently bringing evolutionary genetics to fruition. Divided into six thematic sections, this volume covers methods for characterizing genomes, diverse approaches to enrich DNA for subsets of the genome prior to sequencing, and state-of-the-art protocols for sampling genetic variation for genetic mapping studies and population genetic studies (RAD sequencing, Sequenom, microarrays, etc.). The volume concludes by focusing on methods to study candidate genes, from obtaining their sequences and analyzing their transcripts to experimentally manipulating their activities in vivo. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and accessible, Molecular Methods for Evolutionary Genetics serves as a rich resource to biologists interested in evolution, whether they be specialists or beginners in molecular biology.

The Molecular Basis of Plant Genetic Diversity presents chapters revealing the magnitude of genetic variations existing in plant populations. Natural populations contain a considerable genetic variability which provides a genomic flexibility that can be used as a raw material for adaptation to changing environmental conditions. The analysis of genetic diversity provides information about allelic variation at a given locus. The increasing availability of PCR-based molecular markers allows the detailed analyses and evaluation of genetic diversity in plants and also, the detection of genes influencing economically important traits. The purpose of the book is to provide a glimpse into the dynamic process of genetic variation by presenting the thoughts of scientists who are engaged in the generation of new ideas and techniques employed for the assessment of genetic diversity, often from very different perspectives. The book should prove useful to students, researchers, and experts in the area of conservation biology, genetic diversity, and molecular biology.

Molecular techniques are proving invaluable in determining the phylogenetic status of potentially endangered species, for investigating mechanisms of speciation, and for measuring the genetic structure of populations. It is increasingly important for ecologists and evolutionary and conservation biologists to understand and use such molecular techniques, but most workers in these areas have not been trained in molecular biology. This book lays out the principles and basic techniques for the molecular tools appropriate for addressing issues in conservation, and it presents case studies showing how these tools have been used successfully in conservation biology. Examples include the genetic analysis of population structure, various uses of DNA in conservation genetics, and estimation of migration parameters from genetic data. Wildlife managers, as well as researchers in these areas, will find this a valuable book.

Ecological Genetics addresses the fundamental problems of which of the many molecular markers should be used and how the resulting data should be analysed in clear, accessible language, suitable for upper-level undergraduates through to research-level professionals. A very accessible straightforward text to deal with this difficult topic - applying modern molecular techniques to ecological processes. Written by active researchers and teachers within the field. There will be an accompanying web site managed by the authors, comprising of worked examples, test data sets and hyperlinks to relevant web pages.