'Frozen Ark' to save animal DNA
The Scimitar Horned Oryx was one of the first to have its DNA stored
The genetic make-up of endangered species is to be preserved for the future in a major new UK-based project.
The 'Frozen Ark', launched on Tuesday, will collect DNA from mammals, birds, insects and reptiles near extinction.
The first samples, from endangered species such as the Socorro dove, Arabian Oryx and yellow sea-horse, were placed in deep freeze on Monday.
There are no plans to use the DNA for cloning, but it is hoped it could help in conservation and genetic research.
The project is being supported at the University of Nottingham's Institute of Genetics.
The collection of specimens will be stored at the Natural History Museum and the Zoological Society.
Duplicates of the specimens will be stored elsewhere, including the Centre for the Reproduction of Endangered Species in San Diego and at the Animal Gene Storage Resource Centre of Australia in Melbourne.
Thousands of animals are expected to disappear within the next 30 years, including 1,130 types of mammals and 1,183 species of birds.
I don't think anyone should be under the illusion that...dinosaurs will be thudding along the streets of Mayfair
Sir Crispin Tickell
Scientists will give priority to animals in danger within the next five years, and those only surviving in captivity.
It will then focus on the many thousands expected to disappear within the next few decades.
Samples from captive breeding programmes, zoos and wild populations will be collected and then frozen at minus 80 degrees Celsius.
Although some scientists have talked of the potential for cloning in the future, Frozen Ark's patron Sir Crispin Tickell said it was important not to get too carried away with the idea.
'Desperate'
"I don't think anyone should be under the illusion that this is about recreating Jurassic Park and that dinosaurs will be thudding along the streets of Mayfair," he said.
If large numbers of specimens were preserved the cost is would be about £200 per species.
Professor Anne McClaren, who chairs the Frozen Ark steering committee, said the primary motive behind the exercise was an ethical one.
"I think Noah would have been very proud of this project," she said.
The Polynesian tree snail (partula snail) is an endangered species
"It's always seemed to me extraordinarily sad and wrong that a species should go extinct without even leaving behind its DNA which could be sequenced."
Professor Phil Rainbow, Keeper of Zoology at the Natural History Museum, said the current rate of animal loss was the greatest in the history of the Earth, and described the fate of animal species as "desperate".
"Progress in molecular biology has been so fast that we cannot predict what extraordinary things may be possible in the next few decades.
"For future biologists and conservationists and for the animals they seek to protect this global network will be of immeasurable value."
Roger Higman, biodiversity co-ordinator at Friends of the Earth, said conservation efforts should focus on preserving habitats rather than DNA.
"While we're not against the idea, the Frozen Ark is not a practical solution to protecting diversity," he said.
"The two-by-two ark concept just doesn't provide the range you need. To properly safeguard genetic diversity you would have to have about 3,000 individuals from each species. That's a lot of DNA."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3928411.stm
The Scimitar Horned Oryx was one of the first to have its DNA stored
The genetic make-up of endangered species is to be preserved for the future in a major new UK-based project.
The 'Frozen Ark', launched on Tuesday, will collect DNA from mammals, birds, insects and reptiles near extinction.
The first samples, from endangered species such as the Socorro dove, Arabian Oryx and yellow sea-horse, were placed in deep freeze on Monday.
There are no plans to use the DNA for cloning, but it is hoped it could help in conservation and genetic research.
The project is being supported at the University of Nottingham's Institute of Genetics.
The collection of specimens will be stored at the Natural History Museum and the Zoological Society.
Duplicates of the specimens will be stored elsewhere, including the Centre for the Reproduction of Endangered Species in San Diego and at the Animal Gene Storage Resource Centre of Australia in Melbourne.
Thousands of animals are expected to disappear within the next 30 years, including 1,130 types of mammals and 1,183 species of birds.
I don't think anyone should be under the illusion that...dinosaurs will be thudding along the streets of Mayfair
Sir Crispin Tickell
Scientists will give priority to animals in danger within the next five years, and those only surviving in captivity.
It will then focus on the many thousands expected to disappear within the next few decades.
Samples from captive breeding programmes, zoos and wild populations will be collected and then frozen at minus 80 degrees Celsius.
Although some scientists have talked of the potential for cloning in the future, Frozen Ark's patron Sir Crispin Tickell said it was important not to get too carried away with the idea.
'Desperate'
"I don't think anyone should be under the illusion that this is about recreating Jurassic Park and that dinosaurs will be thudding along the streets of Mayfair," he said.
If large numbers of specimens were preserved the cost is would be about £200 per species.
Professor Anne McClaren, who chairs the Frozen Ark steering committee, said the primary motive behind the exercise was an ethical one.
"I think Noah would have been very proud of this project," she said.
The Polynesian tree snail (partula snail) is an endangered species
"It's always seemed to me extraordinarily sad and wrong that a species should go extinct without even leaving behind its DNA which could be sequenced."
Professor Phil Rainbow, Keeper of Zoology at the Natural History Museum, said the current rate of animal loss was the greatest in the history of the Earth, and described the fate of animal species as "desperate".
"Progress in molecular biology has been so fast that we cannot predict what extraordinary things may be possible in the next few decades.
"For future biologists and conservationists and for the animals they seek to protect this global network will be of immeasurable value."
Roger Higman, biodiversity co-ordinator at Friends of the Earth, said conservation efforts should focus on preserving habitats rather than DNA.
"While we're not against the idea, the Frozen Ark is not a practical solution to protecting diversity," he said.
"The two-by-two ark concept just doesn't provide the range you need. To properly safeguard genetic diversity you would have to have about 3,000 individuals from each species. That's a lot of DNA."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3928411.stm
