Genetic pollution is a term for uncontrolled[1][2] gene flow into wild populations. It is defined as "the dispersal of contaminated altered genes from genetically engineered organisms to natural organisms, esp. by cross-pollination",[3] but has come to be used in some broader ways. It is related to the population genetics concept of gene flow, and genetic rescue, which is genetic material intentionally introduced to increase the fitness of a population.[4] It is called genetic pollution when it negatively impacts the fitness of a population, such as through outbreeding depression and the introduction of unwanted phenotypes which can lead to extinction.
Conservation biologists and conservationists have used the term to describe gene flow from domestic, feral, and non-native species into wild indigenous species, which they consider undesirable. They promote awareness of the effects of introduced invasive species that may "hybridize with native species, causing genetic pollution". In the fields of agriculture, agroforestry and animal husbandry, genetic pollution is used to describe gene flows between genetically engineered species and wild relatives. The use of the word "pollution" is meant to convey the idea that mixing genetic information is bad for the environment, but because the mixing of genetic information can lead to a variety of outcomes, "pollution" may not always be the most accurate descriptor.
^Boffey PM (December 13, 1983). "Italy's Wild Dogs Winning Darwinian Battle". The New York Times. Although wolves and dogs have always lived in close contact in Italy and have presumably mated in the past, the newly worrisome element, in Dr. Boitani's opinion, is the increasing disparity in numbers, which suggests that interbreeding will become fairly common. As a result, genetic pollution of the wolf gene pool might reach irreversible levels, he warned. By hybridization, dogs can easily absorb the wolf genes and destroy the wolf, as it is, he said. The wolf might survive as a more doglike animal, better adapted to living close to people, he said, but it would not be what we today call a wolf.
^Ellstrand NC (2001). "When Transgenes Wander, Should We Worry?". Plant Physiol. 125 (4): 1543–1545. doi:10.1104/pp.125.4.1543. PMC 1539377. PMID 11299333.
^"the definition of genetic pollution". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
^Waller, Donald M. (June 2015). "Genetic rescue: a safe or risky bet?". Molecular Ecology. 24 (11): 2595–2597. Bibcode:2015MolEc..24.2595W. doi:10.1111/mec.13220. ISSN 1365-294X. PMID 26013990. S2CID 11573077.
Geneticpollution is a term for uncontrolled gene flow into wild populations. It is defined as "the dispersal of contaminated altered genes from genetically...
can result in loss of genetic diversity via geneticpollution, assortative mating and outbreeding. In human populations, genetic differentiation can also...
specific ecologies that are subjected to geneticpollution—i.e., uncontrolled hybridization, introgression and genetic swamping that lead to homogenization...
widespread genetic erosion and geneticpollution. This has resulted in the loss of genetic diversity and biodiversity as a whole. Genetically modified organisms...
farms are: Wastes from cage cultures; Farm escapees and invasives; Geneticpollution and disease and parasite transfer; Habitat modification. As with most...
pollution long after the source of the pollution is stopped. Major forms of pollution include air pollution, water pollution, litter, noise pollution...
produce fertile hybrids with native, wild animals which leads to geneticpollution (not a clear term itself) in the naturally evolved wild gene pools...
wildlife authorities throughout the affected area, as it is seen as geneticpollution of the black duck gene pool. Hybrids between Greylag goose (Anser...
Genetic erosion (also known as genetic depletion) is a process where the limited gene pool of an endangered species diminishes even more when reproductive...
interbreeds with indigenous wild ducks of closely related species through geneticpollution by producing fertile offspring. Complete hybridisation of various...
Talapia rendalli, into the lagoon, changes in water level and organic pollution. Local extinctions can be reversed, in some cases artificially. Wolves...
the term geneticpollution, 'genetic rescue' has political connotations. Some of the more controversial practices which can be considered genetic rescue...
Ecosystem management Environmental impact of agriculture Escaped plant Geneticpollution Hemeroby Hemerochory Human impact on the environment Introduced species...
can be threatened with extinction through the process of geneticpollution. Geneticpollution is unintentional hybridization and introgression, which leads...
up genetic variation over long periods of time by mutation and recombination in a stable environment. Other factors such as selection or genetic drift...
Research indicates that living in areas of high pollution has serious long term health effects. Living in these areas during childhood and adolescence...
introduction of invasive species, ecosystem nutrient depletion, water and noise pollution are some examples. Loss of habitat can be preceded by an initial habitat...
include air pollution, water pollution, acoustic, and oil pollution. Ships are responsible for more than 18% of nitrogen oxides pollution, and 3% of greenhouse...
Water pollution (or aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities, that has a negative impact on their...
1930s and 1940s, institutes in Nazi Germany studied genetics, created genetic registries and researched twins. Nazi scientists also studied blood, and...
Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances called pollutants in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans...
breeding records of animals, which caused inbreeding and hybridization (geneticpollution, as in one case where an Asiatic lion were cross-bred with an African...
displacement of naturally evolved humans by a new species produced by genetic engineering or technological augmentation. Natural and external extinction...
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