Mangalita

In accordance with the research directions promoted by programme 4 “Genetic Potential Preservation of Natural Autochthon Resources and Biodiversity” represents a priority of national research strategy. At this moment there are exploited approximately 40 different species out of which people obtained about 4500 races known as “global animal genetic resources“. More than 30% of these races are in danger of extinction and other ones are threatened by ineffective use. At the European Association for Animal Production -Animal Genetic Bank- there were registered 1029 domestic animal races and more of 40% is considered to be “in risk“. There are more than 360 active conservation programme in different European countries.

For this reason, the project has in view to certify and conserve the genetic potential of Mangalita race by cryopreservation of cells and entities with reproductive potential as: spermatozoa (artificial insemination), oocytes (in vitro fertilization), embryos (embryo transfer) and somatic cells (fibroblasts and stem for possible applications of cloning). Genetic, reproductive and productive characterization of individuals will permit to create a cryogenic bank that will be the base of increase the Mangalita population in our country and the European Union. Reevaluation of the race indicates new economic valences, one of them being the real demand for the quality of this meat on the market of some countries from the European Community. The marbling of the meat offers a special quality to meat products, the butchers showing real interest in purchasing and commercialization.

Genetic potential of the races can be preserved in 2 ways: in situ and ex situ. In the first case, the animals are placed in a traditional production system that could have as a result, the conserving not only the genes of interest, but also the genome as a complex system of genes adapted to a certain ecosystem or even the traditional knowledge concerning this race, a fact that would lead to the increase of its value. In the second case there are 2 preservation methods: by maintaining in vivo the races outside their natural environment (for example in national parks or zoos) and by sperm, embryo, oocyte and somatic cell cryopreservation techniques (in vitro). The advantage of ex situ preservation is the possibility of reducing the risk of epidemics and along with in situ preservation it is playing a complementary role in controlling genetic erosion. For both preservation methods mentioned above the in vivo and in vitro embryo production methods are of vital importance.

The application of modern molecular genetic methods (AND Fingerprinting), cryobiology ones (classic freezing, vitrification and OPS vitrification) and reproductive biotechnologies (sperm sexing, in vivo embryo production, in vitro fecundation and embryo micromanipulation) gives complexity to the research project contributing to the development of knowledge in this field.

The expected results will have a scientific character due to their technical feature of fundamental research and an applicative one due to the economic and social impact that they create.