Safeguarding Earth's biodiversity by creating a lunar biorepository

Area of Science:

• Astrobiology
• Cryobiology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Earth's biodiversity faces significant threats, necessitating novel preservation strategies.
• Long-term storage solutions are crucial for safeguarding genetic resources.
• Space exploration offers unique environments for potential biorepositories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a passive lunar biorepository for long-term cryopreservation of Earth's biodiversity.
• To establish a method for preserving prioritized taxa, starting with animal skin fibroblast cells.
• To support future space exploration and planetary terraforming initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Developing an exemplar system using cryopreserved fish fins (Starry Goby, *Asterropteryx semipunctata*).
• Expanding samples into fibroblast cells and recryopreserving them.
• Testing packaging robustness and radiation sensitivity in Earth-based laboratories.

Main Results:

• An exemplar system for cryopreserving and testing biological samples has been developed.
• Key factors for lunar storage include radiation damage mitigation and maintaining cryogenic temperatures (-196°C).
• Potential suitable lunar polar sites have been identified.

Conclusions:

• A passive lunar biorepository presents a viable strategy for Earth's biodiversity conservation.
• Further testing on the International Space Station is proposed before lunar deployment.
• This program is an open call for participation in long-term biodiversity preservation.