“Reviving Earth’s Rarest Species: The Journey to Save an Endangered Animal from Extinction” – Discover Wildlife

There are only two northern white rhinos left in the world. With no males among them, this subspecies is on the brink of extinction. However, scientists hold a glimmer of hope from a long-dead rhino. In 2009, skin cells were taken from a male northern white rhino named Angalifu. These cells were preserved at San Diego Zoo’s Frozen Zoo, creating a potential lifeline for future conservation efforts.

An international team from Scripps Research, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics recently mapped the northern white rhino’s genome. This detailed genetic blueprint offers valuable insights into how we might save the species, as shared in a study published in PNAS.

Interestingly, the genome shows that the northern white rhino is closely related to the southern white rhino, making it possible for a southern white rhino to serve as a surrogate for a northern white rhino embryo.

Jeanne Loring, a key researcher from Scripps, expressed excitement about this breakthrough: “We’re getting closer to being able to rescue animals that might go extinct during our lifetimes. This is a major step not just for rhinos but for animal conservation as a whole.”

Biobanking, or the freezing of living cells, has paved the way for this research. Instead of working with damaged DNA from old samples, scientists have access to actual northern white rhino cells, which boosts their chances of success.

The ultimate aim is to produce healthy embryos and implant them in surrogate mothers. While this process might sound like science fiction, Loring insists it’s about restoring a known species, not recreating one from the past.

The challenge is producing embryos, especially since no male northern white rhinos exist. Scientists have begun cultivating northern white rhino stem cells in the lab. Stem cells are unique because they can develop into any type of cell, including eggs and sperm. By comparing these stem cells to the comprehensive genome, researchers can identify healthy cells free from harmful mutations. This careful selection increases the odds of creating viable embryos.

Recent advancements in genetic research hint at a more comprehensive understanding of conservation. According to a recent survey by the World Wildlife Fund, public interest in wildlife conservation is growing, but funding remains a critical barrier. Work like that of Loring and her team highlights the potential of modern science to tackle these challenges directly.

For further details about this groundbreaking study, check out the full paper: Genomic map of the functionally extinct northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni).

As the story of the northern white rhino unfolds, it reminds us of the ongoing efforts we can make toward conservation and the role of science in helping protect endangered species.

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