US EditionGenome of near-extinct northern white rhino offers hope for reviving the species
- In 2014, scientists used skin cells from Angalifu, a male northern white rhino at the San Diego Zoo who died that year, to help map the rhino's genome.
- The genome mapping project, combining cutting-edge DNA sequencing and genome mapping, built a high-quality reference genome to aid conservation efforts for the near-extinct northern white rhino.
- Researchers found a mutation missing over 30 million DNA base pairs affecting more than 200 genes, which could impact reproductive safety in stem cell lines derived from the rhinos.
- Professor Jeanne Loring emphasized that having the genome sequence enables the use of advanced human biotechnology techniques, such as gene editing and cellular markers, to support conservation efforts, highlighting the genome as a powerful indicator of future possibilities.
- This genome breakthrough offers a crucial step toward reviving northern white rhinos using advanced reproductive technologies and serves as a key example for conserving other endangered species.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Scientists edge closer to saving the Northern White Rhino from extinction
There are only two critically endangered Northern White Rhinos left in the world, both of them female, both unable to carry a pregnancy. After successful tests, scientists say they're close to producing the first new offspring with the help of a surrogate mother and lab-produced embryos
The Northern White Rhino Rescue Mission
The northern white rhino teeters on the brink of extinction. At Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the San Diego Zoo’s Frozen Zoo, scientists, vets, and caregivers like Zach Mutai, Marlys Houck, and Dr. Florence Kang’ethe are racing against time to bring the species back. Through groundbreaking science and deep compassion, they’re writing a hopeful final chapter — before the book closes for good.
Colossal Biosciences, a powerful US biotechnological firm, recently announced what it presented as the de-extinction of the giant wolf, a species that disappeared more than 10,000 years ago. As in other scientific debates, the technical possibility of a breakthrough and the sense of moving forward with it collide.
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