Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share common characteristics due to their highly similar genomes. However, not all organisms that look alike are members of the same species. Various mechanisms keep most species discrete. While some mechanisms prevent reproductive behavior and fertilization (pre-zygotic isolation), others prevent the production of fertile offspring after mating has...

Teratogenicity

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...

Hybrid Zones

Hybrid Zones

Hybrid zones are narrow regions where two closely related species interact, mate, and produce hybrids. Relative to either parent species, hybrids may possess distinct phenotypic or genetic differences that impact their survival and reproductive success. The genetic variances introduced by hybridization influence species diversity and speciation processes within the hybrid zone.Gene flow and natural selection are evolutionary mechanisms that shape the outcome of a hybrid zone. Gene flow...

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Effects of Density and Food Availability on the Growth of Captive-Reared Eastern Hellbenders.

Zoo biology·2026

Same author

Limited Effects of Temperature on Captive Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) Growth.

Zoo biology·2026

Same author

Conserving Genetic and Genomic Diversity in Accordance with the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Annual review of animal biosciences·2025

Same author

Short-Read Pangenomes and Their Potential Utility in Population and Conservation Genomics.

Molecular ecology resources·2025

Same author

Thematic Layers of Genomic Susceptibility for Conservation Monitoring.

Molecular ecology·2024

Same author

Genomic Diversity as a Key Conservation Criterion: Proof-of-Concept From Mammalian Whole-Genome Resequencing Data.

Evolutionary applications·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians

Published on: May 12, 2019

Amphibian malformations and inbreeding.

Rod N Williams¹, David H Bos, David Gopurenko

¹Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. rodw@purdue.edu

Biology Letters

|July 3, 2008

Summary

In tiger salamanders, genetic analysis revealed that malformations are not caused by inbreeding. Both malformed and normal individuals exhibited high genetic diversity, suggesting other factors are at play.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

Published on: August 24, 2013

Shifting Zebrafish Lethal Skeletal Mutant Penetrance by Progeny Testing

Shifting Zebrafish Lethal Skeletal Mutant Penetrance by Progeny Testing

Published on: September 1, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians

Published on: May 12, 2019

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

Published on: August 24, 2013

Shifting Zebrafish Lethal Skeletal Mutant Penetrance by Progeny Testing

Shifting Zebrafish Lethal Skeletal Mutant Penetrance by Progeny Testing

Published on: September 1, 2017

Area of Science:

Amphibian genetics
Developmental biology
Conservation genetics

Background:

Inbreeding is a known cause of morphological abnormalities in many animal species.
Urodele amphibians, like tiger salamanders, can exhibit various physical malformations.
Understanding the genetic basis of these malformations is crucial for population health.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the potential link between inbreeding and morphological malformations in tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum).
To compare genetic diversity and inbreeding levels between malformed and normal individuals.
To determine if inbreeding is a causal factor in salamander malformations.

Main Methods:

Captured and phenotypically assessed 687 adult and 1,259 larval tiger salamanders for gross malformations.
Analyzed genetic variation using both cytoplasmic and nuclear markers.
Quantified and compared measures of inbreeding (f and F), allele frequencies, heterozygosity, and relatedness between malformed and normal groups.

Main Results:

The most frequent malformations observed were brachydactyly, ectrodactyly, and polyphalangy.
Overall malformation frequencies were similar between adults (0.078) and larvae (0.081).
No significant differences were found in genetic diversity, inbreeding coefficients, allele frequencies, or relatedness between malformed and normal salamanders.

Conclusions:

Inbreeding is not a significant causal mechanism for the observed morphological malformations in tiger salamanders.
High genetic diversity was maintained in both normal and malformed populations.
External factors, such as environmental contaminants, may contribute to malformations by inducing genome alternations.