Genetic variation, which is generated by mutation, recombination and gene flow, can reduce
the mean fitness of a population, both now and in the future. This 'genetic load'has been …

Deleterious mutations decrease reproductive fitness and are ubiquitous in genomes. Given
that many organisms face ongoing threats of extinction, there is interest in elucidating the …

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve
biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the …

Understanding the factors that cause endangered populations to either grow or decline is
crucial for preserving biodiversity. Conservation efforts often address extrinsic threats, such …

Species persistence can be influenced by the amount, type, and distribution of diversity
across the genome, suggesting a potential relationship between historical demography and …

Our ability to assess the threat posed by the genetic load to small and declining populations
has been greatly improved by advances in genome sequencing and computational …

When new mutations arise at functional sites they are more likely to impair than improve
fitness. If not removed by purifying selection, such deleterious mutations will generate a …

SUMMARY 'Living fossils', that is, ancient lineages of low taxonomic diversity, represent an
exceptional evolutionary heritage, yet we know little about how demographic history and …

Half a century ago, a seminal article on the hitchhiking effect by Smith and Haigh
inaugurated the concept of the selection signature. Selective sweeps are characterised by …

Sea turtles represent an ancient lineage of marine vertebrates that evolved from terrestrial
ancestors over 100 Mya. The genomic basis of the unique physiological and ecological traits …