Structural genomic variation in the inbred Scandinavian wolf population contributes to the realized genetic load but is positively affected by immigration.

ABSTRACT: When populations decrease in size and may become isolated, genomic erosion by loss of diversity from genetic drift and accumulation of deleterious mutations is likely an inevitable consequence. In such cases, immigration (genetic rescue) is necessary to restore levels of genetic diversity and counteract inbreeding depression. Recent work in conservation genomics has studied these processes focusing on the genetic diversity of single nucleotide polymorphisms. In contrast, our knowledge about structural genomic variation (insertions, deletions, duplications and inversions) in endangered species is limited. We analysed whole-genome, short-read sequences from 212 wolves from the inbred Scandinavian population and from neighbouring populations in Finland and Russia, and detected >35,000 structu

SUBMITTER: Smeds L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10848878 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature