Updated: Dec 11, 2013
Cheetahs, the lightning-fast predators of the African savannas, are racing towards endangerment, and it’s not just because of the usual suspects like habitat loss or poaching. Delve deep into their DNA, and a startling fact emerges - cheetahs share a whopping 99% of their genetic makeup. This means there's less genetic diversity amongst cheetahs than within human siblings.
Genetic Diversity: The Survival Code
The vitality of any species isn’t just about its numbers but the genetic diversity it holds. Just as a diverse team can better adapt to unforeseen challenges, a genetically diverse species can weather environmental shifts. This diversity can range from obvious traits like skin colour in humans to the more subtle ones, only identifiable through complex DNA sequencing.
Unfortunately, many species, including the cheetah, suffer from what is termed a "genetic bottleneck". It signifies a severe drop in genetic diversity due to a drastic reduction in population size. When this happens, species become highly susceptible to diseases and find it challenging to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Cheetahs: A Tale of Genetic Peril
While most mammals share about 80% of their genes with others of their kind, the cheetah’s 99% genetic similarity is a clear indicator of a past bottleneck event. This doesn’t give these majestic creatures much room to evolve and adapt, making them more vulnerable to extinction than other species.
Historically, the original cheetah bottleneck is believed to have occurred around 10,000 years ago. However, other species have faced more recent bottlenecks, like the European bison in the 1920s and California's sea otters in the 1930s. These events still influence our current conservation strategies.
Beyond Wildlife: The Agricultural Implication
Our concern shouldn’t stop at wildlife. The food we consume, primarily crops, is also susceptible to genetic bottlenecks. Over the years, agricultural practices have moved towards monocultures, favouring high-yielding varieties and sidelining indigenous varieties. Such monocultures, though efficient, are ticking time bombs, as evidenced by the catastrophic Irish Potato Famine, which occurred due to a reliance on a single crop variant.
Recent studies in eastern Ethiopia have highlighted the perils of moving away from crop diversity. Those who embraced modern monocultures faced more crop failures compared to those who retained native mixtures.
In today's world, where challenges like climate change and fuel shortages loom large, maintaining agricultural genetic diversity is not just a need; it's a dire necessity. While we do have seed banks, true preservation lies in maintaining genetic variety in its natural environment.
Moving Forward
To truly protect our planet's biodiversity, we must expand the definition to include "genetic diversity". This will not only safeguard wildlife but also ensure the continued prosperity and sustainability of our agricultural practices. Let’s value and promote traditional farming methods that have been time-tested and have safeguarded our biodiversity for generations.
Originally published in the Stanford Daily on April 28, 2011
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