Genetics Lab Projects
The various projects that we have planned include:
- Cheetah ID based on scat samples to estimate animal density. Systematic sample collection will be facilitated by a scat-sniffing-dog named Finn who is being trained by Chris Bartos from the Philadelphia Zoo. Finn is due to join us in early 2009.
- Increasing sample numbers and range for population structure and relatedness studies. While before we were limited to cheetahs that had been handled by CCF after being captured by farmers, now we will be able to increase the sample size by including non-invasive scat samples. For this project any cheetah sample encountered in the wild is collected and its date and location recorded.
- ID of biomedical samples for captive cheetahs. Although most captive cheetah scat can be identified using non-digestible markers (such as corn, lentils, peas, barley) that is fed selectively to a particular individual, in some cases this has not been possible. When scat samples can not be attributed to one captive cheetah unequivocally, the genetic analysis of the DNA in the scat sample will allow for identification. The sample can then enter the biomedical study.
- ID of biomedical samples for wild cheetahs. We are lucky enough that two wild cheetah males drop scat almost daily in the vicinity of our female cheetah enclosures. We will be able to attribute the samples to one or the other, and then proceed to biomedical study. In their particular case we are interested in stress and sexual hormone variation over time. Ongoing work for that project includes daily scat walks to find the samples as well as DNA extraction.
- Study of genetic traits in the Cheetah. CCF has a large collection of samples and morphological information. Some of the genetic traits that appear in the wild population in Namibia are: kinked tail, crowded incisors, palatine erosion. Although the laboratory is not ready to work on gene identification yet, we are continuously collecting samples in order to prepare for future genetic work.
- Comparison of different methods of sample collection and preservation, and measure of the effect of environmental stress on scat DNA.
- A collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Eduardo Eizirik's laboratory in Brazil is targeting any carnivore scat. In this case we will use scat samples in order to identify the carnivore species that are present in the area. Although in some cases it is fairly easy to identify the species from the physical aspect of the scat (i.e. Hyena), in other cases (i.e. small carnivore), this is much more difficult. Genetic analysis of the scat using mitochondria markers will be used for this effect. Currently, we (Ezekiel Fabiano, graduate student, and myself) are getting ready to spend several weeks in Eduardo's laboratory in order to do some of the collaborative work there. We are continuously collecting carnivore scat on CCF premises for this project. We will expand sample collection to other areas soon.
- We are getting ready to start several carnivore species collaborations, such as relatedness and population structure studies of Lions for the Ongava Wildlife reserve. This project is still at the planning stages and we are working on permits and funding. We are open to collaborations on other species. Please contact us if you are interested.
- Another project involves the understanding of potential genetic predisposition of the Livestock guarding dogs used in Namibia to lingual squamous cell carcinoma. The clinical side of this project has been pushed forward by Axel Hartman (local veterinarian) and Elizabeth Lester (veterinary technician at CCF). The genetic aspect of this project is still in the preliminary phase. Depending on the type of approach deemed necessary, the genetic work may possibly be performed at CCF, however it is likely that this will require a whole genome scan in which case it will be performed by one of our collaborators.
