ISSN:
1432-2242
Keywords:
Key words Inbreeding depression
;
Deleterious genes
;
Synergism
;
Breeding schemes
;
Computer simulation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The purging of deleterious genes for increasing progeny fitness and/or avoiding extinction in breeding programs, particularly with endangered species, has become of increased interest in recent years. Some studies have shown that purging can be effective only for deleterious genes of multiplicative, large effects, such as lethal or sublethal genes. In the present study, we examine the effectiveness of purging viability genes of synergistic, small effect with continuous selfing, full-sib mating, or half-sib mating, by computer simulation. A diploid breeding population with a constant progeny size of 10, 50 or 200 is simulated, one of the three breeding schemes referred to above is practiced over ten generations, and the patterns of purging, progeny survival and population extinction are examined. The rate and amount of purging generally increase with high dominance, strong synergism, high genetic load and low inbreeding. Progeny survival can increase only for a progeny size larger than 50 using schemes of mild inbreeding when there is a high level of dominance and strong synergism. The probability of extinction could greatly increase up to 100% for a progeny size of 10, but mostly is less than 10% for a progeny size larger than 50 in terms of the genetic load examined. The implications of these simulated results for purging deleterious genes of small effect in small breeding populations are discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s001220051078
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