Research: Genome Project
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a system in which genetic material from a dolphin can be applied to a microarray under scientific conditions. This process allows for changes at the genetic level to be identified before any population effects such as low survival rates are seen.
This new technology offers the promise of providing better information about the biology, physiology and overall health of dolphins. This knowledge can be used to help maintain dolphin populations in the wild and in human care.
A change in the normal physiology of an animal due to exposure to contaminants is ultimately a result of changes at the molecular and cellular levels. Molecular changes in animals can be detected by using gene chips, a research tool where thousands of genes specific to an organism are spotted onto a solid support matrix. The chips are then probed with mRNA sequences obtained from treated tissues or cells, to obtain a quantitative measure of expression for each of the genes present on the array.
This technology is currently being widely utilized in research and diagnostic applications in the medical field in several disciplines including oncology, infectious disease, cellular biology, toxicology and pharmacology. Gene chips provide more informative, precise, quantitative information to researchers and clinicians compared to many existing assays available. The promise that gene chips therefore offer for health assessments in dolphins more information will be obtained about the biology, physiology, and overall health of animals. This information is critical for the maintenance and survival of this species.
