27 August 2018: A new research project at the University of Canberra’s Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) is focusing on saving species on the brink of extinction. Researchers are using cell line techniques – in which cells are grown under controlled conditions – for biobanking, or cryogenically preserving genetic material. Lead researcher Professor of Genetics Tariq Ezaz is using the technique with in vivo cloning technology, using induced pluripotent stem cells that can be grown into any type of cell. Dr Ezaz said it was a game-changing moment for animal conservation. “The changing definition of biobanking makes this technique the future of conservation,” Dr Ezaz said. “Once it merely meant the cryopreservation of sperm cells and ova, which could then be used in in vitro fertilisation. Now, we are looking at the establishment and cryopreservation of cell lines to be used with in vivo cloning technology. “These are derived from adult cells reprogrammed into an embryonic state, which can propagate indefinitely and be grown into any type of cell in the body. “What this will assist with is supporting struggling species populations before they go extinct,” Dr Ezaz said. The project is a collaboration between Randers Regnskov (a tropical zoo in Denmark), Aarhus University, Aalborg University and the IAE. It is focusing on amphibian and reptile cell lines, due to the large number of conservation issues affecting them. “Many amphibians are susceptible to pathogens like the chytrid fungus, so sometimes finding viable specimens is difficult,” Dr Ezaz said. “At the same time, it’s been very hard to establish cell lines from amphibians – they initially grow from small tissue pieces, but then they die. We don’t yet know why, and that’s a challenge we want to overcome.” Dr Ezaz is receiving assistance in the project from Danish conservation biologist and University of Canberra PhD student Julie Strand, who manages the Conservation Biobank at Randers Regnskov. Ms Strand said the cell lines will be made available to researchers worldwide in the hope more scientists will work to save endangered species. “This work is insurance of sorts, particularly important for the more endangered species,” Ms Strand said. “The more threatened a species, the more important to preserve its genetic diversity. “Biobanking should be seen as a way to manage small populations by storing genetic diversity while it is still high. If needed, you will be able to reintroduce the stored genes.” Dr Ezaz said the project will have far-reaching implications across the sphere of biology, including developing genomic resources for biomedical research, and the study of evolutionary and comparative genomics. “Cell lines developed from various tissues can replace whole organisms in testing, and whole organism response can be tested in this way,” he said. “There’s just a lot of potential when working with cell lines.”
Contact the University of Canberra media team: Antony Perry 0434 795 919 Suzanne Lazaroo 0409 140 415 |
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