African subspecies, his daughter and granddaughter are the last survivors of a subspecies that, in the 1970s, reached 500 copies. Now the destiny of the white rhinos of the north is in the hands of science or, rather, of genetics. "For many years we have lived through global awareness campaigns to save white rhinoceroses, Sudan death demonstrates that what we have done so far has not done much, now, thanks to technology, we have an opportunity to restore the species," he explains. Oliver Ryder, director of research at the San Diego Zoo. The last hope to save the African subspecies is at the San Diego Zoo Research Institute, frozen and locked. This is the Frozen Zoo, a genetic bank in which the DNA of more than 120 species is conserved, among which is the almost extinct white rhinoceros of the north. The plan to 'resuscitate' the subspecies is to recover the genetic material of the tissues they have stored. Subsequently, it is proposed to obtain primordial cells such as oocytes and spermatozoa. With all the genetic material ready, a surrogate mother will be searched for an in vitro fertilization. Researchers say that by then, the embryo will be implanted in a fertile female of southern white rhinoceros, a subspecies that, to this day, has more specimens.
Oliver Ryder, director of the Conservation Research Institute of San Diego / FERRAN NADEUTomás Marqués-Bonet, director of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF), It includes: "What is being planted is an extinction, that is, to create a new population of a species that is disappearing, if you have stem cells from the northern white rhino we could turn them into the sea and, thanks to that, recover the species" . The hope of the Sudanese family, therefore, is now in the hands of science. Science responsibility "We have the responsibility to save these species that, due to human action, are on the verge of extinction, but unlike in the past, we can now plant a genetic rescue to return the species we have lost to life," he adds. Ryder. At this time, the San Diego Conservation Research Institute, led by the North American researcher, has the genetic code of 12 northern white rhinos, among which is the Sudan. "What we plan is to take the cells, stimulate their activity and restart to rescue the species, we hope that a genetic variability is enough to create a new population, but we will only know it in two or three generations," the researcher replies. The project of the frozen zoo recalls, in a certain way, the ark of Noah. That is, it is about conserving the planet's biodiversity in a small space for a potential extinction of the species. "We are aware of the extent to which our activities become controversial, however, the presence or extinction is beyond what is happening today, we are faced with the responsibility of including the balance in favor of the conservation of animals. ", reflects ryder. For now, the project has 10,000 cell cultures of 120 different species. Among them, highlights the genome of animals in danger of extinction and, in addition, species in better condition. In this sense, Ryder adds: "We need to act with prevention because, although at this moment, many people are not threatened, we do not know how the situation is in 50 years, in the same way, although now we do not have all the technology" Necessary.