WildlifeSNPits post 30/11/2014: So you want to do some genetics…? Bridging the gap between lab and field

Click here to read the full post at WildlifeSNPits:

“Bob said I should call you because it would be good to do some genetics on this mammal population, how long will that take…?”

“Alice and I collected a few tissue samples when we were in the field earlier this year and now we’d like to talk to you about collaborating on some DNA analysis…”

I’m paraphrasing of course, but I’ve heard variants of these numerous times over the last decade or so. I’ve also met many people with a passion for ecology and conservation who have wanted to learn more about genetics as it applies to their research. Which is great! DNA can be a wonderful tool with great potential to contribute to wildlife conservation and management. As DNA sequencing technologies advance, genetic analysis has become both more affordable and more accessible to people who study non–model organisms (i.e. most of the world’s wildlife!).