This study reports on investigation of ways of improving the breeding programme for growth-related traits in common carp in Vietnam. The base population was synthesized following a single pair mating scheme from six carp stocks: (1) 2nd generation of family selection; (2) Hungarian 6th generation of mass selection; (3) Hungarian scaled carp; (4) Indonesian yellow 6th generation of mass selection; (5) Indonesian yellow carp; and (6) Vietnamese 6th generation of mass selection. The next two selected generations were produced using a partial factorial mating scheme, with each family being split and reared using communal early rearing (CER) or separate early rearing (SER) methods. The second generation (G2) was produced from selected fish from the CER G1 group. The total number of selection, control and reference families was 135 in the G1 and 101 in the G2 respectively. The control and reference (Hungarian P33 line) families were produced by single pair mating (reference families with the G2 only). Seven microsatellite loci were used for parentage assignment in the CER groups: 96.8% of the offspring (1284 individuals) and 96.2% offspring (1341 individuals) were unambiguously assigned to 113 families (selection, control) in the G1 and 99 families (selection, control and reference) in the G2 generations, respectively. Restricted maximum likelihood in the individual model was used to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters. In CER, the estimated heritability values of common carp were from 0.20 ± 0.04 to 0.29 ± 0.05 for both weight and length at final harvest, indicating substantial additive genetic variation for selection on growth-related traits. The overall obtained maternal and common environmental effects were consistently close to zero. The average of direct response to selection for body weight was 15.0% per generation. In SER, the number of families in the G1 and G2 were 135 (selection and control) and 101 (selection, control and reference), respectively. The heritability estimates were from 0.20 ± 0.07 to 0.31 ± 0.08 at final measurement. Common environmental (full-sib family) effect were all lower at tagging and slightly higher at last measurement, ranging from 0.05 to 0.22. The response in each generation of selection as the difference between the selection and control lines was 8.1% on average for weight at final harvest, lower than under CER. The high genetic correlations of growth-related traits between the third (one year old, mature) and second (7 months old) measurements could allow selection to be based on the earlier assessment, reducing handling stress close to spawning. The benefits of using microsatellite markers to ascertain parentage, achieve greater growth rate (close to farming systems), shorten time to maturity and selection, and the overall relative merits of using CER v’s SER in this genetic improvement programme are discussed.

Polygyny is the most common mating system in mammalian species (95%), yet our understanding of polygynous systems and microevolutionary processes is still limited. Pinniped mating systems range from extreme polygyny (e.g. elephant seals) to sequential female defence by males and hence have often been used as models for mating system studies. Parentage analysis has enabled the examination of mating success, the identification of pedigrees, and the elucidation of social organisation, greatly enhancing our understanding of mating systems (Chapter 1). However, such analyses are not without pitfalls, with erroneous assignments common in open systems (i.e. when parental and offspring samplings are incomplete). We investigated the effects of the user-defined parameters on the accuracy of parental assignment using two commonly used parental allocation programme, CERVUS and PASOS (Chapter 2). We showed that inaccurate user-defined parameters in CERVUS and PASOS can lead to highly biased output e.g. the assignment rate at 95% CL of offspring with a sampled known mother to sampled males decreased from 58% to 32% when the proportion of candidate males sampled in the parameter options decreasing 4-fold. We found that the use of both CERVUS and PASOS for parentage assignment can increase the likelihood of correctly allocating offspring to sampled parents to 97% in our study system. Incorrect parental assignment can bias estimates of various biological parameters, such as lifetime reproductive success and mate choice preference, and hence bias ecological and evolutionary interpretations. Here, we propose solutions to increase the power of parentage assignment and hence decrease the bias in biological parameter estimates. In addition, we analysed the effects of the intrinsic bias in likelihood assignment approaches towards assigning higher probability of parentage on individuals with rare alleles and those with heightened offspring-parent matches, which increase with the number of homozygous loci (Chapter 3). We showed that, as a consequence of the algorithms employed in the programmes CERVUS and PASOS, heterozygote males with rare genotypes are assigned higher rates of parentage than males with common alleles. Consequently, where two males could both be biological fathers of a given offspring, parentage assignment will more often go to the male with the rarer alleles (most often in heterozygous loci). Thus, the commonly used parentage assignment methods may systematically bias the results of parentage analyses towards supporting the notion that females prefer more genetically unusual, most often heterozygous, males. Such a bias may sway investigators towards incorrectly supporting the concept that females choose genetically more unusual males for heterozygosity fitness benefits that underpin the good genes hypothesis, when in fact no such relationship may exist. In polygynous mammals, successful males mate with multiple females by competing with and limiting the access of other males to females. When the status of many males (age, size, health, genetic etc.) prevents them from achieving the primary mating tactic, theory predicts selection for a diversification of male mating tactics. Recent studies in pinnipeds have shown that observed male mating success was correlated to male paternity success in some species (elephant-seals), but not in others (grey seals). The existence of alternative mating strategies can explain those discrepancies. Chapter 4 implemented the guidelines provided in Chapter 2 and 3 and focused on the polygynous New Zealand fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri, predicting that 1) competition for females is likely to cause a diversification of male mating tactics; and 2) that alternative tactics can yield reproductive success. Our results indicated three male behavioural profiles; one corresponded to large territorial males and two illustrated a continuum of alternative tactics employed by non-territorial subordinate males. Our study highlights that holding a territory is not a necessary condition for reproductive success in a population of otariids. The degree of sexual size dimorphism in polygynous species is expected to increase with the degree of intra-sexual competition and in turn with the degree of polygyny. The life history of an individual is the pattern of resource allocations to growth, maintenance, and reproduction throughout its lifetime. Both females and males incur viability costs of mating and reproduction. However, male viability costs due to increase growth and male-male competition can be greater than female viability costs of mate choice and reproduction. Although an abundant literature on sexual dimorphism in morphology, physiology, and parasite infections is available, little is known on the intra-sexual differences in physiology and parasite infections associated to the reproductive success of different mating strategies in mammalian species. Chapter 5 examined the reproductive costs between territorial and subordinate males New Zealand fur seal related to their relative reproductive success using a multidisciplinary approach (behaviour, genetics, endocrinology, parasitology). We found that dominant New Zealand fur seal males endure higher reproductive costs due to the direct and indirect effects of high testosterone levels and parasite burdens. Our study highlights that holding a territory confers a higher reproductive success, but induces higher costs of reproduction that may impair survival. Understanding microevolutionary processes associated to polygynous systems is fundamental in light of the ongoing anthropogenic alteration of the environment through climatic variations and habitat reduction which ultimately affect opportunity for sexual selection and shape the life history trade-offs.

The brown trout, Salmo trutta L., displays one of the most variable and polymorphic life-history strategies of all the salmonids. In some populations, individuals spend their whole life-cycle in the river (freshwater-resident) whereas in others, a varying proportion migrates to sea for variable amounts of time to better feeding conditions before returning to spawn (anadromous). The ‘decision’ if an individual will migrate or not will be determined by the balance of the costs and benefits of following a particular life-history strategy. The balance of these, which do not affect males and females equally, will determine the future success (measured by fitness) of each strategy. This research addresses the influences of parental contribution, mainly maternal effect, of anadromous and freshwater-resident brown trout on offspring performance and subsequent life-history. A partial migratory population of brown trout was studied in the Tadnoll Brook, one of the seven major tributaries on the River Frome. The tributary is classified as a circum-neutral chalk stream, 9.9 km long with a catchment approximately 50 km2. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis (SIA) was used to quantify maternal reproductive contribution of anadromous and freshwater-resident brown trout to offspring and determine the future success (measured by fitness) in terms of size and time of emergence. A panel of 12 microsatellite loci was used to assign parentage to 0+ parr. Using field data collected over 1.5 years on individual fish, this study tested parental influence on offspring performance in terms of size and growth rate and calculate the reproductive contribution of maternal/paternal anadromous and freshwater-residents. Adult life-history strategy was identified using a combination of results from SIA, PIT tag data and ecological data (body size, temperature). Parr life-history strategy (1+) was inferred using PIT tag detection data. The results of the SIA indicated fry of anadromous females emerged earlier and at a larger size than fry of freshwater-resident females. Parentage assignment of parr was low (28 %), with 8 parr assigned to both parents and 43 assigned to only a single parent. There was no detectable effect of parental life-history on parr size and growth rate, however the raw data may suggest offspring of anadromous parents have an early size advantage but a slower growth compared to offspring of freshwater-resident parents during the first year of the parr stage. Twenty-four percent of the offspring were identified as putative smolts at 2+ and both forms interbred and could produce offspring of each life-history. Estimates of reproductive contribution (SIA and growth) show a higher proportion of anadromous females and males (growth only) contributed to offspring production. The results of this research indicate that the maternal anadromous contribution is higher in the Tadnoll Brook population, affording fitness benefits to their offspring during early ontogeny such as size advantages and emerging at a more profitable time to establish feeding territories. Adult life-history does not appear to influence juvenile (0+ parr) life-history but may have an effect on offspring performance. The presence of both forms in the population suggests the anadromous fitness benefits to offspring may only have an affect during ontogeny and early stages of growth. Then after juveniles reach a size threshold environmental factors influence offspring life-history, resulting in the largest parr with the fastest growth adopting an anadromous life-history.

The thesis deals with parentage determination. At present, this issue is becoming more and more topical due to current diversion from traditional values, the traditional model of family in particular. The thesis concerns not only with the determination of paternity, but also with maternity determination, which is mentioned with regard to assisted reproduction and surrogacy. Emphasis is placed on both, current legislation and the new Civil Code coming into effect on 1 January 2014. The thesis is divided into eight chapters. The introduction discusses possible views on the concept of parenthood. Furthermore, it introduces the issue of parentage determination, especially in connection with the increasing number of children born outside marriage. The following chapter is devoted to legislative regulation of parentage determination itself. Firstly, it elaborates the history of such regulations with focus on Roman law and the Austrian Civil Code. Subsequently, it describes the current legislation and briefly comments on the new Civil Code, which is further discussed in the corresponding chapters. The third chapter examines the determination of maternity. Included are the issues of assisted reproduction and surrogacy, as well as anonymous and concealed births, which have become an important topic rather recently....

L’érosion des stocks naturels de Paracentrotus lividus, oursins comestibles de Méditerranée, malgré les mesures actuelles réglementant les captures, soulève des inquiétudes sur la pérennité de son exploitation et sur l'équilibre des écosystèmes. En 2009, à la demande des pêcheurs professionnels, des gestionnaires de la ressource et de la communauté d’agglomération Toulon Provence Méditerranée (TPM), l'Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard et l'Équipe de Biologie Moléculaire Marine du laboratoire PROTEE (Université de Toulon), ont engagé un travail de recherche visant à mieux comprendre l'influence des processus naturels et anthropiques qui façonnent les populations naturelles, dans le but d'améliorer les stratégies de soutien aux populations, notamment par le réensemencement de juvéniles d'oursins.L'objectif du travail de thèse a été de (i) caractériser l'état des stocks sauvages de l'aire toulonnaise et de leurs dynamiques par la mise en place du suivi démographique bisannuel à long terme de huit stations références, (ii) de développer les méthodes de production de juvéniles en écloserie et (iii) d'évaluer l'efficacité du repeuplement et son impact sur les populations naturelles. Compte-tenu du cycle de vie bentho-pélagique de P. lividus, nous avons inscrit cette problématique dans une échelle régionale.Les résultats obtenus permettent de dresser un premier état des lieux de la structuration et des fluctuations d'abondances des peuplements de P. lividus sur l'aire toulonnaise et démontrent la fragilité des stocks naturels vis à vis des captures. La maîtrise complète du cycle de vie en aquaculture a été obtenue, notamment en optimisant les conditions d’élevage au stade critique de la métamorphose. Enfin, les repeuplements expérimentaux, réalisés à l'échelle pilote, ont présenté un succès variable selon les sites mais potentiellement important, sans aucun effet sur la structuration et la diversité génétique des stocks naturels. Le travail engagé et les premiers résultats sont discutés dans le contexte de la conservation et de l'exploitation durable de cette ressource naturelle. Ils constituent en outre un préalable indispensable aux réflexions sur l’ajustement ou la mise en place de nouvelles actions de gestion des populations et de la ressource. / Despite current measures regulating captures, the erosion of natural stocks of the edible Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin of Mediterranean Sea, raises concerns about the sustainability of its exploitation and the stability of the associated ecosystem. In 2009, upon request of professional fishermen, resource managers and the urban district of Toulon Provence Méditerranée, we have initiated a program of research to better understand the influence of natural and anthropogenic processes that shape natural populations. The objectives of the thesis were (1) to monitor the demographic evolution of P. lividus communities on eight sites of the Toulon area between 2011 and 2013 before and after the legal harvesting period, (2) to develop a reliable method of production of P. lividus juveniles in hatchery and (3) to evaluate the effectiveness of restocking at a pilot scale and assess its potential impact over natural populations. Given the long larval phase in the bentho-pelagic cycle of this species, we monitored the genetic diversity of P. lividus populations at a regional scale.The data and results acquired during this work first provide an initial evaluation of the structure, abundance and fluctuation of followed P. lividus populations along the Toulon coast and demonstrate the vulnerability of natural stocks towards harvesting. In addition, complete control over the whole life cycle in batch was achieved through optimization of cultural and food parameters, especially at the critical stage of settlement and metamorphosis. Finally, experimental restocking trials demonstrated varying success depending on the site, but potentially significant, without apparent effect on the genetic diversity of wild stocks. Results obtained in this thesis are discussed in the context of conservation and sustainable exploitation of this natural resource. They are also a prerequisite to discussion on the adjustment or implementation of new management guidelines.

Palms are ecologically important and charismatic trees of the tropics. They are important to the livelihood of local communities and are key resources for the frugivore community in tropical forests. These frugivores are in turn hunted by humans for food. This ecological connection between human, palms, and frugivores provides a unique setting to study how cultural and ecological components within this multitrophic interaction influences palm populations. In chapter 1, I explored the traditional and ecological knowledge behind the cultivation of palm-weevil larvae for food. I found the Joti people, cultivated two species of weevil-larvae differently, which also determined whether palms were logged before or after reproductive maturity. The cultivation of each weevil-larvae species therefore had a differential impact on palm populations. In chapter 2, I investigated how frugivores mediate interactions between two dominant and co-occuring palms in the Peruvian Amazonia-- Attalea phalerata and Astrocaryum murumuru. I found frugivores codispersed seeds of the two palm species, which contributed to aggregated spatial patterns of their juveniles. Spatial patterns suggested associations between heterospecific palms experienced lower density-dependent mortality than associations between conspecifics and this likely contributes to the coexistence of the two palm species in their early life-history. These findings highlight the importance of dispersers to species coexistence and suggest over-hunting can lead to shifts away from species codominance. In chapter 3, I examined the contribution of dispersal, distance-and density-dependent to spatial ecology of Attalea phalerata. Using microsatellite-based parentage analysis, I found high levels of seed movement mediated by frugivore dispersers. Despite this, I found dispersal limitation remains strong enough to cause spatial aggregation between offspring and parents. As individuals grew towards maturity, distance and density dependent mortality contributed to increasingly disaggregated patterns between older offspring cohorts of parents, non-parent adults, and siblings. These results provide a foundation for assessing the impacts of hunting on the spatial ecology of palm populations. In chapter 4, we characterized 14 microsatellite loci for A. phalerata that were used in the parentage analysis of chapter 3. These loci amplified reliably and were sufficiently polymorphic and will be useful for future studies addressing population-level questions for this species. / text

Polygyny is the most common mating system in mammalian species (95%), yet our understanding of polygynous systems and microevolutionary processes is still limited. Pinniped mating systems range from extreme polygyny (e.g. elephant seals) to sequential female defence by males and hence have often been used as models for mating system studies. Parentage analysis has enabled the examination of mating success, the identification of pedigrees, and the elucidation of social organisation, greatly enhancing our understanding of mating systems (Chapter 1). However, such analyses are not without pitfalls, with erroneous assignments common in open systems (i.e. when parental and offspring samplings are incomplete). We investigated the effects of the user-defined parameters on the accuracy of parental assignment using two commonly used parental allocation programme, CERVUS and PASOS (Chapter 2). We showed that inaccurate user-defined parameters in CERVUS and PASOS can lead to highly biased output e.g. the assignment rate at 95% CL of offspring with a sampled known mother to sampled males decreased from 58% to 32% when the proportion of candidate males sampled in the parameter options decreasing 4-fold. We found that the use of both CERVUS and PASOS for parentage assignment can increase the likelihood of correctly allocating offspring to sampled parents to 97% in our study system. Incorrect parental assignment can bias estimates of various biological parameters, such as lifetime reproductive success and mate choice preference, and hence bias ecological and evolutionary interpretations. Here, we propose solutions to increase the power of parentage assignment and hence decrease the bias in biological parameter estimates. In addition, we analysed the effects of the intrinsic bias in likelihood assignment approaches towards assigning higher probability of parentage on individuals with rare alleles and those with heightened offspring-parent matches, which increase with the number of homozygous loci (Chapter 3). We showed that, as a consequence of the algorithms employed in the programmes CERVUS and PASOS, heterozygote males with rare genotypes are assigned higher rates of parentage than males with common alleles. Consequently, where two males could both be biological fathers of a given offspring, parentage assignment will more often go to the male with the rarer alleles (most often in heterozygous loci). Thus, the commonly used parentage assignment methods may systematically bias the results of parentage analyses towards supporting the notion that females prefer more genetically unusual, most often heterozygous, males. Such a bias may sway investigators towards incorrectly supporting the concept that females choose genetically more unusual males for heterozygosity fitness benefits that underpin the good genes hypothesis, when in fact no such relationship may exist. In polygynous mammals, successful males mate with multiple females by competing with and limiting the access of other males to females. When the status of many males (age, size, health, genetic etc.) prevents them from achieving the primary mating tactic, theory predicts selection for a diversification of male mating tactics. Recent studies in pinnipeds have shown that observed male mating success was correlated to male paternity success in some species (elephant-seals), but not in others (grey seals). The existence of alternative mating strategies can explain those discrepancies. Chapter 4 implemented the guidelines provided in Chapter 2 and 3 and focused on the polygynous New Zealand fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri, predicting that 1) competition for females is likely to cause a diversification of male mating tactics; and 2) that alternative tactics can yield reproductive success. Our results indicated three male behavioural profiles; one corresponded to large territorial males and two illustrated a continuum of alternative tactics employed by non-territorial subordinate males. Our study highlights that holding a territory is not a necessary condition for reproductive success in a population of otariids. The degree of sexual size dimorphism in polygynous species is expected to increase with the degree of intra-sexual competition and in turn with the degree of polygyny. The life history of an individual is the pattern of resource allocations to growth, maintenance, and reproduction throughout its lifetime. Both females and males incur viability costs of mating and reproduction. However, male viability costs due to increase growth and male-male competition can be greater than female viability costs of mate choice and reproduction. Although an abundant literature on sexual dimorphism in morphology, physiology, and parasite infections is available, little is known on the intra-sexual differences in physiology and parasite infections associated to the reproductive success of different mating strategies in mammalian species. Chapter 5 examined the reproductive costs between territorial and subordinate males New Zealand fur seal related to their relative reproductive success using a multidisciplinary approach (behaviour, genetics, endocrinology, parasitology). We found that dominant New Zealand fur seal males endure higher reproductive costs due to the direct and indirect effects of high testosterone levels and parasite burdens. Our study highlights that holding a territory confers a higher reproductive success, but induces higher costs of reproduction that may impair survival. Understanding microevolutionary processes associated to polygynous systems is fundamental in light of the ongoing anthropogenic alteration of the environment through climatic variations and habitat reduction which ultimately affect opportunity for sexual selection and shape the life history trade-offs.

Submitted by Ana Carla Almeida (ana.almeida@ucsal.br) on 2016-10-06T19:01:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MICHELPOSSIDIO.pdf: 1025907 bytes, checksum: d56ac3869da0ace09a022977cf226320 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Emília Carvalho Ribeiro (maria.ribeiro@ucsal.br) on 2016-11-29T20:27:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 MICHELPOSSIDIO.pdf: 1025907 bytes, checksum: d56ac3869da0ace09a022977cf226320 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-29T20:27:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MICHELPOSSIDIO.pdf: 1025907 bytes, checksum: d56ac3869da0ace09a022977cf226320 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-20 / O presente estudo tem a finalidade de analisar a filiação socioafetiva que passa a ser discutida pela doutrina civilista especializada que adota esta terminologia, para identificar efetivamente as relações filiais não derivadas da forma natural ou adotiva. Apresenta como os institutos da família e da filiação foram abordadas pelo Direito Brasileiro, em uma pesquisa evolutiva, desde o período colonial até a época contemporânea, fazendo uma síntese do conceito de Família Patriarcal, passando pela definição de filiação contida no Código Civil de 1916, na legislação extravagante, no Código Civil de 2002, chegando numa Nova Filiação inserida na Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988. Faz-se também uma breve análise histórica da família no Direito Romano, que embasou o nosso ordenamento jurídico, em especial o patriarcalismo que dominou o instituto da família por décadas, bem como a atenção que foi outorgada à filiação ao longo das nossas Constituições, culminando na Carta de 1988, que deu efetivamente garantia constitucional de proteção aos filhos, independentemente de como foram havidos nos vários tipos de entidade familiar aceitas atualmente. Esta nova filiação, diferente dos paradigmas tradicionais de filiação, baseados nos aspectos biológicos e presuntivos legais, agora está pautada sob a valorização do carinho e do afeto, a filiação socioafetiva. Tendo a doutrina determinado formas e elementos que constituem esse novo tipo de filiação. Todavia, para se chegar ao conceito da verdade socioafetividade e a sua colocação como paradigma moderno de filiação, necessário se faz perpassar pelos conceitos das outras verdades que caracterizam as relações parentais, quais sejam: a verdade jurídica (onde se analisa as presunções pater is est e as decorrentes de fertilização artificialmente assistidas); e a verdade biológica, que demonstra com quase 100% (cem por cento) de certeza o vínculo filial, através dos exames de DNA. Analisa-se, também acerca do vínculo decorrente da adoção, que além de se configurar como uma verdade legal é por excelência, uma relação afetiva. E, efetivamente, do estudo da socioafetividade, não há como não se fazer uma leitura dos elementos caracterizadores fundamentais, que demonstram que este vínculo é comprovado através do amor, carinho, dedicação, desvelo, proteção e confiança mutuamente outorgados entre aqueles que se apresentam como pais e filhos em sociedade, e que esta demonstração afetiva em sociedade enseja o reconhecimento da filiação, inclusive, não permitindo a sua desconstituição uma vez declarada em juízo. Assim, este vínculo denominado de filiação socioafetiva, à revelia do valor fonte dignidade humana, possui subespécies, tais quais: adoção, “filhos de criação”, “adoção à brasileira”, e a filiação presuntiva decorrente da fertilização artificial heteróloga, a filiação socioafetiva é debatida nos Tribunais e na Doutrina, em razão de existirem ainda alguns obstáculos legais, sociais e culturais a serem ultrapassados. / This study aims to examine the membership socioaffective which shall be discussed by specialized civil doctrine that adopts this terminology to effectively identify the relationships derived from subsidiaries not a natural or adoptive. Shows how the institutions of family and membership have been addressed by Brazilian law, in an evolutionary research since the colonial period to the contemporary era, making a synthesis of the concept of the patriarchal family, including the definition of membership contained in the Civil Code of 1916, extravagant legislation, the Civil Code of 2002, arriving in New Membership inserted in the Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil in 1988. It also makes a brief historical analysis of the family in Roman law, that based our legal system, especially the patriarchy that dominated the institution of the family for decades, and the attention that was given to the membership throughout our constitutions, culminating the Charter of 1988, which was effectively guarantee constitutional protection to children, regardless of how they had in the various types of family unit currently accepted. This new affiliation, unlike the traditional paradigms of parenthood, based on the biological and legal presumptive, is now based on the appreciation of love and affection, the membership socioaffective. Having determined the doctrine of forms and elements that constitute this new type of membership. However, to arrive at the concept of truth and its Socio-affectiveness placement as the modern paradigm of membership, they have to pervade the concepts of other truths that characterize parental relationships, which are: the true legal (which analyzed the presumption pater is est and resulting from artificially assisted fertilization) and the biological truth, which shows almost 100% (one hundred percent) of certainty filial bond, through DNA testing. We analyze, also about the obligations of the adoption, which also be configured as a legal fact is par excellence, a loving relationship. And indeed, the study of socio-emotional, can not help but make a fundamental characteristic elements of reading, showing that this bond is established through love, affection, dedication, devotion, trust and mutual protection accorded among those present as parents and children in society, and that this emotional demonstration in society entails the recognition of membership, including not allowing their deconstitution once declared in court. Thus, this bond called socioaffective affiliation, against the source value human dignity, has sub-species, such as: adoption, "foster kids", "Brazilian adoption", and membership presumptive result of heterologous artificial fertilization, membership socioaffective is debated in the courts and in the doctrine, because there are still some legal obstacles, social and cultural rights to be overcome.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are single base-pair variations that exist between individuals. There are approximately a million or more SNPs located throughout the genome of each individual animal. Therefore, by taking advantage of these unique polymorphisms, SNPs can be used to resolve questions of unknown parentage in the livestock industry. Currently a panel of 88 SNPs, obtained from a panel of 121 SNPs originally created by USDA-MARC, is commercially available from Fluidigm®. The objective of this study was to determine whether the number of SNPs from the 88-SNP marker panel could be reduced to form a smaller, more cost-efficient parentage-testing SNP panel. A smaller panel would benefit farmers and researchers alike in reducing the time spent in running and analyzing the test, as well as reducing the overall cost for the procedure. Genotype data from over 3000 cattle samples containing offspring and potential parents were examined using two parentage calling software packages. Parentage assessment was analyzed using nine SNP panels of varying size. It was determined that a panel of 71 SNPs, chosen from the original 88 SNPs, was the minimum number required to maintain statistical accuracy and reliability.

Often on cattle operations and dairy farms, where multiple bulls are exposed to cows either by live cover or artificial insemination, error can be present in parentage record keeping for breed registries or production use. Research has evolved to the integration of using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to answer questions where cases of unknown parentage may exist. With the evolution of the research, differentiated panels have been created specifically for parentage analysis. Our objective was to complete an analytical comparison between two specific panels, a proven 88 parentage SNP panel and a recently developed 25 SNP panel. A smaller panel would be beneficial in a parentage test as the smaller panel would reduce time and costs associated with the parentage analysis. In this study, nearly 4,000 cattle samples were collected and prepared from offspring, sires, and dams. Parentage calling software was used to identify the parentage assignments of the samples. Through these procedures and comparisons, it was determined that the smaller 25 SNP panel did not have the magnitude or strength necessary to be able to correctly identify cattle in the same manner as the 88 SNP panel.