Research
Genomics
Overview
A genome is the complete set of DNA within an organism. Like snowflakes, every individual genome is unique. By unlocking the information in the genome, we can gauge the health of an individual or an entire population. The majority of genetic variations within a genome are single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs. Each individual nucleotide represents a building block of DNA. Sequences of these building blocks code information in our genes.
Our Research
African Lion Safari is working collaboratively with its partners to develop genomics tools that can be used to ensure endangered species in our care can be sustained while we work to conserve their wild counterparts. We are using SNP data to determine relatedness among individuals, ensuring that we choose optimal mating pairs, and to identify genes that improve fitness, for example, ensuring high fertility or resistance to disease.
Our Research
African Lion Safari is a partner on the Canada Earth Biogenome Project (CEBP). We are leading efforts to create high quality reference genomes for Canadian Species at Risk for which a recovery plan identifies that ex situ conservation management can assist in recovering species. These species are the focus of the Canadian Species Initiative, a joint endeavour between African Lion Safari and Wildlife Preservation Canada.
Our Future Goals
African Lion Safari is working collaboratively with CEBP, Queen’s University, and the Canadian Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Recovery Implementation Group (CEMRRIG). This collaboration has led to the development of a participatory workshop process by which a genomics plan will be made to support recovery actions for species at risk. We will be using the same process over time to develop plans for other focal Canadian species.