Preserving biodiversity through cryopreservation:

A glimmer of hope for endangered species

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Given the grim reality of biodiversity loss, preserving our planet's genetic diversity is more important than ever. Cryopreservation is emerging as a key technology in our efforts to protect the genetic material of endangered species. 🌍

To safeguard our planet's biodiversity, the reproductive cells of endangered animals such as the jaguar and the eastern black rhino are now being stored in large-scale biobanks such as Nature's SAFE—one of the largest living tissue biobanks in Europe. A key building block in conservation, this initiative uses cutting-edge technologies to cryogenically freeze small tissue samples from the ovaries and testes of animals that have died at Chester Zoo in England. By freezing these samples at -196°C in liquid nitrogen, all natural chemical processes in the cells are halted, effectively freezing time. These frozen samples hold the potential to revive species that might otherwise be lost forever.

Dr. Sue Walker, Scientific Director of Chester Zoo and co-founder of Nature's SAFE, underscores the importance of this work. With shrinking gene pools and declining animal populations in the wild, the role of modern conservation zoos is more vital than ever. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over 40,000 species are currently threatened with extinction, underscoring the urgency of our biodiversity crisis.

Cryopreservation encompasses various methods for preserving different types of biological samples. For example, sperm can be collected after castration and stored in nutrient-rich, cell-friendly antifreeze before being placed in liquid nitrogen containers. These sperm can later be thawed and used to fertilize frozen eggs, with the resulting embryo being implanted in a surrogate mother.

In addition to sperm, ovarian and testicular tissue are also stored indefinitely in the biobank. Scientists are researching ways to cultivate these tissues to produce eggs and sperm for future breeding programs. Even skin cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells, which can transform into any body cell, including sperm and eggs. This groundbreaking approach means that a skin biopsy from the ear of an eastern black rhino could be crucial to saving the species.

While traditional methods of protecting wildlife populations need to be enforced and strengthened, it is inspiring and hopeful to see that technological advances in the field of cryogenics offer an alternative solution to secure future options for preserving biodiversity on our planet.

As a leading cryogenics company, Consarctic remains committed to advancing cryopreservation technology and contributing to global conservation efforts. Through the use of cryopreservation, we can ensure the survival of our planet's most endangered species and preserve the Earth's rich biodiversity for future generations.