Fumagalli Group - Genetics and Conservation Biology

As the size of animal and plant populations decreases due to human impacts, inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity reduces reproductive fitness and the ability to adapt to environmental changes. Conservation genetics applies molecular biology techniques to the conservation and management of threatened species and populations. The ways in which genetics is used to minimize extinction risks include resolution of taxonomic ambiguities, definition of management units within species, minimization of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity by translocation and captive breeding, detection of hybridizations, definition of sites for reintroduction, use of genetic analyses in forensics, understanding aspects of species biology important for conservation.

The Laboratory for Conservation Biology (LCB) is a specialized unit of the DEE. It is structured to incorporate a network of researchers working in fundamental and applied science, favouring a multidisciplinary approach of conservation biology. In addition to research projects combining molecular ecology tools and concepts with long-term studies of field ecology, the services of the LCB are also intended for environmental organisations concerned with the management and conservation of biodiversity, such as governmental agencies, NGO organisations, private entities, forensic and custom agencies, academic institutions.