Genetic Resources Conservation

Genetic resources conservation is the practice of preserving and protecting the diversity of existing genes in living organisms and their wild relatives, such as plants and animals, for the benefits of both current and future generations. Conservation of genetic resources is important for humanity in order to have access to a range of useful products, such as medicines, food crops, animal breeds, ornamental flowers, and industrial products. For instance, genetic resources can be used to develop new, high-yielding crop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases. Additionally, conservation of genetic resources serves to preserve the evolutionary history of a species, which can be instrumental in understanding the current species’ development, and can help to inform future conservation measures.