Can we keep this on topic please folks?
Fallow Genome Project
- Thread starter Buchan
- Start date
8x57
Distinguished Member
This thread possibly got off to a poor start due to the wording used that was repeated and originally came from the BDS some years ago. In particular the use of the word illegal which will have immediately raised our suspicions.
Perhaps it would be helpful to post below the email that came from the deer branch of the National Gamekeepers Organisation. I think that this better explains Rebecca's intentions.
The NGO Deer Branch have been asked for some help by a student at the University of Central Lancashire who is looking for blood samples from Fallow deer to conduct a DNA sequencing programme.
This cull season they are looking to collect ~250 samples of fallow deer blood and up to 40 samples from each geographical location.
The project initially set out to create a DNA based individual identification tool. In much of the same way we use DNA to identify human individuals from a DNA sample collected from a crime scene or to identify a victim, the tool the student was attempting to develop could be used to identify fallow deer from suspects weaponry / equipment to link the suspect to the crime scene in fallow poaching cases (also think illegally supplied meat).
However, this relies on fallow deer possessing genetic variation in order to distinguish between individuals with certainty. Many previous studies on fallow deer genetic variation showed them to be highly monomorphic – no variation. Many of the previous studies were undertaken many years ago using what is now outdated technology. So far the study has looked at 80 sites along the fallow deer genome and found very minimal genetic variation, which currently links up with previous studies. The lack of genetic variation found so far makes the development of an individual identification tool unlikely.
Therefore, the study is taking a new approach and is undertaking an in-depth study of fallow deer DNA variation by using new Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to determine the true level of genetic variation in the species by using a representative sample of 500 individuals from various samples collected from around the UK.
Furthermore, the study will be undertaking haplotype analysis on the fallow deer (again using NGS). This is a study into a shared mitochondrial DNA segment which helps determine geographical origin. The more haplotypes in an area, the more genetically diverse a population is and vice versa. This will also help give an idea of the ancestry of the herds, where they originally came from overseas. It will certainly be interesting what the NGS detects.
In terms of the sample collection: They are looking to get fallow blood samples from as many different geographical locations as possible. So far, they have ~250 samples which are mostly park deer, ideally they would love to add some wild fallow samples to the collection however, if you members are unable to collect all wild fallow samples a mix of wild and park fallow would be fine too.
There is no cost to you, the university will provide the blood collection tubes and boxes which they will post to you. They will then arrange collection or shipping of samples back once they have been collected.
There is also a simple sample data collection sheet to be filled out to ascertain some details about each sample i.e. sex, location, date of sampling. I also ask for a photograph of each deer sampled. As this is a forensic project, the photographs help with continuation of evidence and proof of species. Samples are usually collected once the carcass is being hung and drained in the larder or as soon after being shot as possible to ensure freshness of the sample. The samples can then be frozen until all are collected and ready to be picked up.
If you would like to take part please contact Rebecca Barnard directly - RBarnard@uclan.ac.uk
Rebecca Barnard
PhD Student: Forensic Wildlife Conservation Genetics
BSc Forensic Science and Anthropology
MSc DNA Profiling
Perhaps it would be helpful to post below the email that came from the deer branch of the National Gamekeepers Organisation. I think that this better explains Rebecca's intentions.
The NGO Deer Branch have been asked for some help by a student at the University of Central Lancashire who is looking for blood samples from Fallow deer to conduct a DNA sequencing programme.
This cull season they are looking to collect ~250 samples of fallow deer blood and up to 40 samples from each geographical location.
The project initially set out to create a DNA based individual identification tool. In much of the same way we use DNA to identify human individuals from a DNA sample collected from a crime scene or to identify a victim, the tool the student was attempting to develop could be used to identify fallow deer from suspects weaponry / equipment to link the suspect to the crime scene in fallow poaching cases (also think illegally supplied meat).
However, this relies on fallow deer possessing genetic variation in order to distinguish between individuals with certainty. Many previous studies on fallow deer genetic variation showed them to be highly monomorphic – no variation. Many of the previous studies were undertaken many years ago using what is now outdated technology. So far the study has looked at 80 sites along the fallow deer genome and found very minimal genetic variation, which currently links up with previous studies. The lack of genetic variation found so far makes the development of an individual identification tool unlikely.
Therefore, the study is taking a new approach and is undertaking an in-depth study of fallow deer DNA variation by using new Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to determine the true level of genetic variation in the species by using a representative sample of 500 individuals from various samples collected from around the UK.
Furthermore, the study will be undertaking haplotype analysis on the fallow deer (again using NGS). This is a study into a shared mitochondrial DNA segment which helps determine geographical origin. The more haplotypes in an area, the more genetically diverse a population is and vice versa. This will also help give an idea of the ancestry of the herds, where they originally came from overseas. It will certainly be interesting what the NGS detects.
In terms of the sample collection: They are looking to get fallow blood samples from as many different geographical locations as possible. So far, they have ~250 samples which are mostly park deer, ideally they would love to add some wild fallow samples to the collection however, if you members are unable to collect all wild fallow samples a mix of wild and park fallow would be fine too.
There is no cost to you, the university will provide the blood collection tubes and boxes which they will post to you. They will then arrange collection or shipping of samples back once they have been collected.
There is also a simple sample data collection sheet to be filled out to ascertain some details about each sample i.e. sex, location, date of sampling. I also ask for a photograph of each deer sampled. As this is a forensic project, the photographs help with continuation of evidence and proof of species. Samples are usually collected once the carcass is being hung and drained in the larder or as soon after being shot as possible to ensure freshness of the sample. The samples can then be frozen until all are collected and ready to be picked up.
If you would like to take part please contact Rebecca Barnard directly - RBarnard@uclan.ac.uk
Rebecca Barnard
PhD Student: Forensic Wildlife Conservation Genetics
BSc Forensic Science and Anthropology
MSc DNA Profiling
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
D.B. Banwell (NZ) wrote many many books on deer around the world after incredible research. If you can access any they are well worth reading. I do have a good selection of his and the info is amazing. IE Even where the German Reds have the Maral stag blood from Mongolia in their genetics, courtesy of the Romans. i`m sure that I have read on his fallow histories but atm cant remember specifics.
There's been some excellent response to this request, so thank you all. To be clear. The illegal killing relates to poaching, not some hidden anti deer culling objective. I apprecaite 8x57 post £22 expanding on the project
charlieboy-shooter
Well-Known Member
Yes, agreed. An interesting thread. And very much interested in the findings. And have therefore emailed Rebecca to see if she requires samples from my part of Essex.
Hopefully Rebecca gets a varied sample pool and the results she requires. I realise this is not a 5 minute project. But ultimately how would we find her findings and conclusion ?
Bandit Country
Well-Known Member
I'm guessing if Rebecca is a PhD candidate it will be published by the University?
Plan B would be to ask her for a copy of the paper.
It will be published as a PhD an hopefully written up for eg Deer
This project is nearing completion, many thanks to those who contributed their time in collecting and the posting a sample.
Two publications relating to the work can be found below, the first is the full sequence of a male Fallow, the second is an investigation of the mitochondrial genes and their relation to other species. (For those asking the question - mitochondria are small bodies within cells that produce most of the energy of the cell and therefore the body. They were probably originally bacteria (pre 3,500,000,000 years ago) and still carry their own genetic material. Mitochondria are passed through the female cells.)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666937423000124 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452014424002048
Two publications relating to the work can be found below, the first is the full sequence of a male Fallow, the second is an investigation of the mitochondrial genes and their relation to other species. (For those asking the question - mitochondria are small bodies within cells that produce most of the energy of the cell and therefore the body. They were probably originally bacteria (pre 3,500,000,000 years ago) and still carry their own genetic material. Mitochondria are passed through the female cells.)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666937423000124 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452014424002048
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