She pulled up a database—the Global Species Management Plan (GSMP). It was a digital Rolodex of every captive animal in the world. "The zoo in San Diego has a male from a different bloodline. He carries the dominant allele for normal pigmentation. We trade our female, who carries the recessive trait, to them. We bring him here."
In the wild, true albinism is extremely rare (approx. 1 in 10,000 to 20,000 births in mammals). When zoos or wildlife managers see an unusually high rate of albinism, it is often a for deeper genetic problems: She pulled up a database—the Global Species Management
Modern zoos have evolved from mere spectacles into centers for conservation biology. Their primary mission is to ensure the long-term survival of species, which requires strict genetic management. 1. Maintaining Genetic Diversity He carries the dominant allele for normal pigmentation