Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
08:39
Shifting Zebrafish Lethal Skeletal Mutant Penetrance by Progeny Testing
Published on: September 1, 2017
8.2K
Rare phenotypes in domestic animals: unique resources for multiple applications
G Leroy1, B Besbes1, P Boettcher1
1Animal Production and Health Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153, Rome, Italy.
Animal Genetics
|December 15, 2015
Summary
Conserving rare animal phenotypes is crucial for genetic resources. This review explores challenges in characterizing, utilizing, and preserving these unique traits for future value.
Area of Science:
- Animal genetics
- Conservation biology
- Phenotypic diversity
Background:
- Animal genetic resources require preservation of inheritable phenotypes for current and future importance.
- Rare phenotypes present unique challenges in characterization, utilization, and conservation due to complexity and inheritance patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges and strategies for characterizing, utilizing, and conserving rare animal phenotypes.
- To highlight the importance of rare phenotypes for various applications, including adaptedness, production, and biological modeling.
- To discuss the integration of rare phenotypes into in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on phenotypic and genetic characterization of animal populations.
- Analysis of the complexities in assessing phenotype rarity, particularly for complex traits.
- Examination of introgression programs and conservation strategies for rare phenotypes.
Main Results:
- Accurate assessment of phenotype rarity is challenging, requiring extensive phenotypic and genetic characterization.
- Characterized rare phenotypes can serve diverse purposes, justifying their inclusion in conservation efforts.
- Biotechnological advancements are poised to transform phenotype characterization, introgression, and management.
Conclusions:
- Effective conservation of animal genetic resources necessitates strategies for rare phenotypes.
- Understanding phenotype complexity and inheritance is key to successful characterization and utilization.
- Future conservation efforts will be influenced by advancements in genomics and genetic engineering.
Related Concept Videos
01:39Epistasis
51.2K
In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...
51.2K
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
8.1K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
8.1K
01:43Incomplete Dominance
32.5K
Gregor Mendel's work (1822 - 1884) was primarily focused on pea plants. Through his initial experiments, he determined that every gene in a diploid cell has two variants called alleles inherited from each parent. He suggested that amongst these two alleles, one allele is dominant in character and the other recessive. The combination of alleles determines the phenotype of a gene in an organism.
32.5K
02:41Lethal Alleles
19.6K
Agouti: A Lethal Allele
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
19.6K
01:35Pedigree Analysis
90.8K
Overview
90.8K
01:09Epistasis Analysis
6.2K
Although Mendel chose seven unrelated traits in peas to study gene segregation, most traits involve multiple gene interactions that create a spectrum of phenotypes. When the interaction of various genes or alleles at different locations influences a phenotype, this is called epistasis. Epistasis often involves one gene masking or interfering with the expression of another (antagonistic epistasis). Epistasis often occurs when different genes are part of the same biochemical pathway. The...
6.2K