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Viable Cell Culture Banking for Biodiversity Characterization and Conservation
Oliver A Ryder1, Manabu Onuma2
1San Diego Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California 92027-7000, USA;
Annual Review of Animal Biosciences
|February 16, 2018
Summary
Advanced cellular and genetic technologies offer new ways to prevent species extinction. Cryobanking viable cell cultures is crucial for biodiversity conservation and requires a global network of facilities.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Biology
- Genomics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Advanced cellular and genetic technologies provide unprecedented opportunities for biodiversity conservation.
- Preventing species extinction is a growing concern, necessitating innovative conservation strategies.
- Cryobanking of viable cell cultures is essential for leveraging these technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advent and current status of in vitro cell culture and cryobanking for biodiversity collections.
- To highlight the progress and limitations of existing efforts in cryobanking viable cell cultures.
- To advocate for a global network of facilities for establishing and cryobanking cell collections.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on in vitro cell culture and cryobanking.
- Analysis of current biodiversity collections and their limitations.
- Assessment of the potential of stem cells and assisted reproductive technologies in conservation.
Main Results:
- Cryobanking of viable cell cultures presents significant opportunities for characterizing and conserving biological diversity.
- Current efforts show progress but also limitations in establishing comprehensive biodiversity collections.
- Advanced technologies offer new options for preventing species extinction through cell preservation.
Conclusions:
- A global network of facilities is strongly recommended for establishing and cryobanking viable cell collections.
- Integrating cryopreserved cell collections into conservation efforts can aid in understanding genetic diversity.
- The potential of cryobanking for preventing species extinction and conserving biodiversity is substantial.
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