The Frozen Zoo UCSD and the San Diego Zoo/ Wild Animal Park What is a frozen zoo? • A frozen zoo is a storage facility in which genetic materials taken from animals are gathered and thereafter stored at very low temperatures in tanks of liquid nitrogen waiting to be reprogrammed into stem cells for optimal preservation over a long period of time. This will depend on new scientific advances. Founder: Kurt Benirschke • German-born American pathologist, geneticist • Received his M.D. degree from the University of Hamburg • Became a UCSD Professor of Medicine • Established a genetics laboratory and ran the autopsy service at UCSD • Established at the Zoo a collection of frozen cells and reproductive material in 1976 • This effort was subsequently taken over and expanded by Professor Oliver Ryder, UCSD graduate. Why so important? • Sixth mass extinction: • We are losing species at 10,000 times or more the background rate. • 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities. • It may be possible to use stem cells to restore genetic variation lost from critically small populations of endangered species. • We need a “Plan B” since the human population is ignoring the need for preventative action. Currently stored cells: • 19,000 egg, sperm and tissue samples from 1,200 animals representing 310 species. References: • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_zoo • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Benirschke • http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/01/us/frozen-zoo-endangered-species-georgia/ • http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodive rsity/extinction_crisis/ • http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-exotic-animals-20150122- story.html .