Gene Banking of Animals and Plants to Preserve Diversity

Endangered species protection programs, zoos, and plant conservatories work to preserve the Earth's animal and plant population, but in order to preserve the richness of biologic diversity, alternatives such as gene banking must be used, according to scientists at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, Washington, DC, USA) held in Denver (CO, USA).

As endangered species disappear from their natural habitats and become limited to zoos and animal parks, researchers are seeking alternative ways to conserve these species. Because of recent developments in cryobiology, it is now possible to keep tissues alive and unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years. Using cryopreservation techniques, the Zoological Society of San Diego (CA, USA) has created a "Frozen Zoo,” which stores viable cell lines from more than 3,200 individual mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Such developments are important, since much of the future will be based on DNA or cell and tissue materials preserved in banks, according to Oliver Ryder, head of genetics at the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species at the AAAS. Banking aids conservation, he notes. By studying the DNA of animals, scientists can learn genetic aspects important to animal survival and determine the best conservation strategy.



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