Author(s): Audrey Domyan, Mathew Harris
Mentor(s): Eric T. Domyan
Institution UVU
We’ve teamed up with Oregon Coast Aquarium to perform genetic tests of relatedness of the 36 common murres (Uria aalge) in the aquarium’s breeding colony. Even though the birds are monitored, it can still be difficult to tell which offspring came from which parents. The importance of knowing family lineage is crucial to maintain genetic diversity in small, human-maintained, breeding populations, to minimize inbreeding depression that can reduce the biological fitness of the population. Genetic tests can help determine which pairs of birds to mate, and which pairs to avoid mating. We analyzed the relationship between birds by utilizing a restriction enzyme-based genotyping by sequencing (GBS) protocol. We used next generation sequencing techniques to find and identify Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). SNPs from every sample were compared to each other to get a big picture of parents, grandparents, siblings, and so on. The genetic testing identified 4 relationships that were previously unknown. Having this new information is beneficial because it gives a clearer picture of which birds are most closely related and should therefore avoid being paired to breed. Currently we are contacting other institutions to expand this study to other populations and bird species.