A new study found that the number of mountain gorillas living in wild is now about 480 within the Virunga volcano mountain range at the border of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Surprisingly inbreeding seems to have eliminated some of the most harmful genetic variants from mountain gorilla populations. Researchers and conservationists have gained a better understanding of how population decline affects these endangered primates. This is the first time that whole genomes were sequenced from mountain gorillas. Researchers were inspired by wild mountain gorilla population recovery. Image: sanger.ac.uk. Despite the fact that mountain gorillas are highly inbred, and in danger of becoming extinct in some areas, scientists published a paper in Science. (citation below). The study found more optimism in their genomes than they expected. This is the first ever in-depth whole-genome study Dr Chris Tyler Smith, corresponding author at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute said that mountain gorillas have been inbred and are in danger of becoming extinct. However, a new research published in Science (citation below) shows there is more to be optimistic about in their genomes. The findings were made thanks to the efforts of the Rwanda Development Board and several conservation groups, such as the Gorilla Doctors, a collaboration between the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center Veterinary Project and the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project and the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project) and the Veterinary Project), as well as well as well as well as well as well as tourists who want to help gorillas to thrive. Researchers were interested in understanding how the small genetic pool could affect mountain gorillas and discovered that many of the harmful variants had been eliminated through interbreeding. The researchers also discovered that the mountain gorillas have evolved to survive in small populations. The co-author is Dr Aylwyn Scally from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Genetics. He said that the study provided valuable insights into the genetic adaptations of gorillas to small numbers. Prior to this, scientists only had limited access to low-quality DNA (US: hair) and faecal samples from a few genetic loci. Scientists were able to observe that mountain gorillas and their close relatives, eastern lowland gorillas were three times more genetically diverse than those from larger groups in central Africa. Surprisingly, there are some benefits to inbreeding. While it is possible that the reduced genetic diversity could make them more susceptible to environmental changes and disease (including cross-infections with human viruses), in many ways, the genetic advantages of inbreeding have been beneficial. Researchers found less harmful variants of loss-of function in mountain gorillas than they did in western populations. These mutations can cause serious, sometimes fatal health problems and stop genes functioning. Scientists discovered that mountain gorillas existed in very small numbers over thousands of years, based on the genetic variations found in their genomes. They were able to determine how population size has changed over the last million years using recently developed methods. According to their calculations, mountain gorilla population has been in the hundreds over several thousand years. This is much more than was previously believed. Dr. Yali Xue is the first author. She works at Sanger Institute. They should thrive for many thousands of years.” This research team believes that their detailed whole-genome sequencing data will be useful in conservation efforts. Now it is easier to trace gorillas captured or killed. With a complete genome-wide genetic map showing the differences among populations, it should be easy to determine their origin. It will be easier to release more gorillas into the wild, and to prosecute poachers for their bush meat and souvenirs. Mike Cranfield is the Co-Director for Gorilla Doctors. He said that this will make it easier to return more gorillas to the wild and prosecute poachers who hunt them for bush meat and souvenirs. Citation: “Mountain Gorilla Genomes Reveal the Impact of Long-Term Population Decline and Inbreeding”, Yali Xue. Javier Prado–Martinez. Peter H. Sudmant. Vagheesh Ayub. Michal Szpak. Peter Frandsen. Yuan Chen. Bryndis Yngvadottir. Marc de Manuel. Jessica Hernandez-Rodriguez. Irene Lobon. Chris Tyler-Smith. Tyler-Smith. Tyler-Smith. Tyler-Smith. Tyler-Smith. Tyler-Smith. Tyler-Smith. Tyler-Smith. Science. Published 10 April 2015: 348 (6231), 242-245. DOI: 10. 1126/science.aaa3952.
