Saving the California Condor

Saving the CaliforniaCondor

Amy WelshJed DoellingEmily LillySarah JoswayRandy PhyllisStephanie Young

Goals• Apply Mendelian genetics

and pedigree analysis to modern problems

Outcomes• Use information from

pedigree analysis to design optimal breeding pairs for the California Condor

California Condors

• Critically endangered• 22 individuals• Captive breeding

program• Some mating pairs

frequently produced non-hatching eggs o Chondrodystrophy

Lethal disorder

Genetics Review for Pedigree Analysis

A Amut

A AA AAmut

Amut AmutA AmutAmut

Gamete from mother

Gam

ete

from

fath

er

Pedigree Analysis

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected male

Is this trait inherited as

1) Dominant2) Recessive

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/

A

B

C

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

What is the genotype of individual A

1) Homozygous dominant2) Homozygous recessive3) Heterozygous4) Too little information

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/

A

B

C

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

Which individual is LEAST likely to carry the mutant allele?

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/

1

2

3

4

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

Create a breeding plan for your subpopulations

• What is your best mating pair?• What is your worst mating pair?

California Condor: You’re the Zoo!11

49

21

2 7

50

40393130 2524

12 3

44

8 4

27 23

6

62

10

32

57

/

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

Create a breeding plan for your subpopulations

• What is your best mating pair?• What is your worst mating pair?

California Condor: You’re the Zoo!11

49

21

2 7

50

40393130 2524

12 3

44

8 4

27 23

6

62

10

32

57

/

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

Yellow Zoo

Create a breeding plan for your subpopulations

• What is your best mating pair?• What is your worst mating pair?

11

49

21

2 7

50

40393130 2524

12 3

44

8 4

27 23

6

62

10

32

57

/

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

Blue Zoo

Create a breeding plan for your subpopulations

• What is your best mating pair?• What is your worst mating pair?

11

49

21

2 7

50

40393130 2524

12 3

44

8 4

27 23

6

62

10

32

57

/

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

Orange Zoo

Create a breeding plan for your subpopulations

• What is your best mating pair?• What is your worst mating pair?

11

49

21

2 7

50

40393130 2524

12 3

44

8 4

27 23

6

62

10

32

57

/

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

Red Zoo

Create a breeding plan for your subpopulations

• What is your best mating pair?• What is your worst mating pair?

Green Zoo11

49

21

2 7

50

40393130 2524

12 3

44

8 4

27 23

6

62

10

32

57

/

FemaleAffected femaleMaleAffected maleDead affected male/

California Condors: Success Story

• As of March 2011, total population is 369 birds

• Frequency of lethal allele is down to 8.8% from 20%

ReferencesRalls, K., J.D. Ballou, B.A. Rideout, and R. Frankham. 2000. “Genetic management of

chondrodystrophy in California condors.” Animal Conservation 3 (02): 145–153.

Images:

http://birdsflight.com/california-condor-facts-where-california-condors-live-what-california-condors-eat/

http://www.markbeeson.com/.a/6a00e5500bca2488340112791a521128a4-800wi

http://gallery.usgs.gov/photos/02_24_2010_y17Gxk3WVq_02_24_2010_1#.T9I7PuJYvBQ