Conservation Genomics – A New Avenue For Conservation Biology

Conservation Genomics – A New Avenue For Conservation Biology

Conservation genomics is a recent introduction in the conservation biologist's tool kit that is helping in better understanding of conservation needs and providing newer avenues to expand conservation efforts. Conservation genomics has been defined and explained by many research groups in different ways, but simply it may be summed up as the application of modern genomic techniques and genomic data to solve problems in conservation biology. It integrates conservation genetics with ecological and evolutionary genomics. Genomic diversity is the base of all diversity among living beings, and may be referred as the first level of biodiversity, followed by diversity at species, community and ecosystem levels. There is considerable diversity in genomes within the same species; while some of the genomic regions show no variation, i.e. may be conserved, other parts of the genome show hypervariability. Understanding such genomic variations and deciphering the parts required for organismal survival is essential in conservation studies. As the global environment continues to undergo rapid changes, conservation biologists are facing newer and difficult challenges. They now have to be prepared to be able: 

1. To predict the effect of changing climate on biological diversity 

2. To prioritise conservation goals 

3. To conserve such biodiversity which would help in maximising species adaptation to newer habitats 

4. To predict adaptation rate and direction