Macrogenetic studies must not ignore limitations of genetic markers and scale.

Ivan Paz-Vinas Evelyn L Jensen Laura D Bertola Martin F Breed Brian K Hand Margaret E Hunter Francine Kershaw Deborah M Leigh Gordon Luikart Joachim Mergeay Joshua Moses Miller Charles B Van Rees Gernot Segelbacher Sean Hoban

Published in: Ecology letters (2021)

Millette et al. (Ecology Letters, 2020, 23:55-67) reported no consistent worldwide anthropogenic effects on animal genetic diversity using repurposed mitochondrial DNA sequences. We reexamine data from this study, describe genetic marker and scale limitations which might lead to misinterpretations with conservation implications, and provide advice to improve future macrogenetic studies.

Keyphrases

mitochondrial dna
genetic diversity
copy number
genome wide
case control
dna methylation
electronic health record
big data
machine learning
artificial intelligence