Conservation Genetics is an interdisciplinary basic and applied science that deals with the genetic factors that influence extinction risk and the genetic management required to minimize these risks.
Evidence indicates genetic variability is important for the overall health and adaptability of populations. Small populations, such as those of threatened or endangered species, lose genetic variability faster than large populations which can lead to reduced fitness.
Conservation genetics draws on a number of fields, including ecology, evolutionary biology, population genetics, systematics, molecular ecology, and mathematical modelling.