Final answer:
Conservation genetics focuses on the genetic factors that affect extinction risk and methods to minimize these risks. It addresses issues like inbreeding depression and loss of genetic diversity. Major topics in conservation genetics include the study of neutral markers and adaptive differences, and the assessment of a species' conservation status.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conservation genetics is a discipline that focuses on the genetic factors that influence the risk of extinction for species and methods to minimize these risks. It addresses several genetic issues, including inbreeding depression, loss of genetic diversity, and reduction of gene flow. Some of the major topics in conservation genetics include the study of neutral markers, adaptive differences, and the assessment of a species' conservation status. These topics provide valuable insights into the provenance of individuals, ecological and evolutionary relationships among populations, and the conservation of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.