China Builds World's First Yangtze Alligator Gene Pedigree Records

84 strictly selected Yangtze Alligators are put into pedigree pools in Anhui Chinese Alligator Progenitive Research Center recently, and become the world's first group of artificial propagated and bred Yangtze Alligators with gene pedigree records.

From over 15,000 artificial propagated and bred alligators currently kept in the Center, 200 candidates were chosen. Blood samples are taken from all candidates and pass gene comparison. 84 alligators with furthest relationship and best genes are picked out, divided into 42 pairs and bred in different pedigree pools of the centre.

All descendants of the 42 alligators will be recorded in the genealogy.

Researchers found that it needs up to 500 Yangtze Alligators to recover a wild species group. However, amount of wild Yangtze Alligators are declining due to environment degeneration. Though artificial bred ones are increasing, their genes are degenerated with long period of endogamy.

Establishment of gene pedigree record for Yangtze Alligators will help to realize the complete preservation of the species, optimize its population genes and rejuvenate the species group, said Wang Renping, associate researcher with the Research Centre.

Yangtze Alligator is one of the two known living species of alligator, belonging to the family of Alligatoridae. The Alligator is unique to China but is now on the verge of extinction. There remains 120 to 150 wild Yangtze Alligators in China, scattering in boundaries of China's Anhui and Zhejiang Province.

Chinese government has set up Chinese Alligator Progenitive Research Center and natural reserve in Anhui province for preservation of the endangered species. More than 15,000 Yangtze Alligators have been artificially bred there, among which 27 were released to the wild. 100 to 150 more are expected to be released in the coming 10 years.

Source from CAS