Molecular genetics of endangered species

Management of rare and endangered species in captivity and in the wild requires an understanding of their relationships to other species and of the genetic units each species contains (Avise, 1989, 1992; May, 1990; Vane-Wright, Humphries and Williams, 1991; Dizon et al., 1992). This paper includes a brief discussion of definitions of species and their population subdivisions, the genetic costs and risks associated with conservation programmes focused on systematic divisions below the species level, and the use of molecular techniques to reveal taxonomic units. We also provide some examples of the application of molecular techniques to current problems in the genetic management of rare and endangered species.