GIS Applications as a Significant Tool in Genetic Studies (original) (raw)

Since the first emergence of life forms on earth, differences between species has always been linked to the geographical distribution and environmental variation. Whereas, some species have developed in certain regions and did not appear in others as a result of many factors related to the geographical locations and environmental conditions of these regions. Therefore, genetics has always been connected to geography science. With the onset of geographic information systems (GIS) science, Genetics was one of the first sciences used GIS applications in its studies. With the time and scientific development, the GIS applications used in genetic studies have evolved. The first known case of the GIS framework for disease control was in 1858 when John snow stopped the spread of Cholera near the Broad Street pump in London by studying the pattern of the disease and led him to disable the well pump by removing its handle. However, it was two decades earlier (1838) when Charles Darwin, developed his formulation of the species evolution using observations on location-based phenotypic variation (genotype related) in plants, snails, birds and other species. This was the first example of the genetic GIS framework. Until very recently, genetic data was neither available nor geographically-referenced on wide scale. Nowadays, there are many applications and software connecting genetics with GIS. One of the examples of these applications is the DIVA-GIS software. DIVA-GIS software allows analyses of genebank and herbarium databases to elucidate genetic, ecological and geographic patterns in the distribution of crops and wild species. Another success story of the tying between GIS and Genetics is the Genesys PGR (Plant Genetic Resources) global portal. Genesys PGR is a free online global portal which allows the exploration of the world's crop