ABSTRACT
For some highly endangered species there are too few reproductively capable animals to maintain adequate genetic diversity, and extraordinary measures are necessary to prevent their extinction. Cellular reprogramming is a means to capture the genomes of individual animals as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which may eventually facilitate reintroduction of genetic material into breeding populations. Here, we describe a method for generating iPSCs from fibroblasts of mammalian endangered species.
Subject(s)
Cellular Reprogramming , Endangered Species , Fibroblasts/cytology , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism , Animals , Cell Culture Techniques , Cell Differentiation , Feeder Cells , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Mice , Retroviridae/genetics , Transcription Factors/genetics , Transduction, Genetic , TransgenesABSTRACT
For some highly endangered species there are too few reproductively capable animals to maintain adequate genetic diversity, and extraordinary measures are necessary to prevent extinction. We report generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from two endangered species: a primate, the drill, Mandrillus leucophaeus and the nearly extinct northern white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum cottoni. iPSCs may eventually facilitate reintroduction of genetic material into breeding populations.
