Overview of maintaining genetic diversity – effective population size – practical applications in a breeding program – Presented by Tom Lewis

It is a widely known principle that inbreeding is detrimental to health. However, the general understanding of the complexities of inbreeding, and its opposite – maintenance of genetic diversity, is often patchy. Some degree of inbreeding is unavoidable given finite populations and also is a consequence of genetic selection for improvement of traits of interest. Thus it is the management of inbreeding, or the rate of loss of genetic diversity, to sustainable levels in populations that is critical. In this talk the topics of how inbreeding is defined, the problems it may cause and how it is measured using pedigree information will be briefly discussed. The parameters rate of inbreeding and effective population size will be introduced, and their relevance illustrated with examples from population analysis of Kennel Club registered populations.

Coming soon.