First News TV
Noah's frozen ark
Category - Science
If you saw our front page story last issue, you’ll have read about the very interesting Frozen Ark project.
This charity aims to collect and store samples from at least 10,000 endangered species of mammals, birds, fish and insects by the year 2015.
As well as collecting the male and female cells that make babies, the scientists also want to take DNA from several animals. This is stored in all cells, and acts like a blueprint that guides the way the body grows. DNA samples can be taken from almost any part of the body, even feathers or hair.
Each individual of a species can have huge differences in their DNA, and this is why, for instance, that some people are very tall or have blue eyes rather than green. Variety in DNA is necessary for a population to develop resistance to diseases or overcome other changes in their environment. One of the dangers facing pandas is that the small number of individuals means that the ‘pool’ of DNA available is dangerously low.
Experts from The Frozen Ark hope that in years to come, technology will allow us to save endangered or extinct creatures by using their collected samples. This should allow us to increase the range of DNA available and protect the diversity of the species.
If a species becomes extinct, it may be possible to bring it back to life by using the stored male and female cells. These would be combined and grown inside a related species to produce what’s called a clone. So, if tigers became extinct, it may be possible to use a female lion to give birth to cloned tiger cubs.
We spoke to Olivier Hanotte, the director of The Frozen Ark, to find out more.
Why is this so crucial now?
I think an important point to stress is that we are collecting samples now for the future. The idea behind the project is that if you don’t collect now, then it will be too late. So if in 30, 40, 50 years’ time cloning has become a routine procedure and accepted by the people, we will have the material. But if we haven’t collected it, then the material will be lost forever.
Are you certain that future technology will advance enough for all this to be possible?
Yes, I’m confident. The reason why I’m confident is because we know first of all that cloning can work. But I think, the way we are moving, it will definitely be possible.
Since there are so many tigers in zoos around the world, is it an easy animal to get samples from and save?
Animals that have been in the zoo for a very long time are probably not so very well adapted to the natural environment. The habitat of the tiger is still there, so it will be extremely important to be able to save samples from tigers that are adapted to their natural environment.
What do you say to critics who tell you that it’s wrong to meddle with nature in this way?
My response to critics is very simple. For people who have leukaemia, bone marrow transplants are something that no-one will challenge. But what you are doing here is basically cloning: you are taking the bone marrow of a donor and multiplying it for the benefit of someone who is sick. So why should we question it when we do it for other species?
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