Cryopreservation Techniques in Wildlife Genetic Conservation

Cryopreservation serves as a cornerstone in efforts to safeguard the genetic diversity of threatened and endangered species. By arresting biological time through the storage of cells, tissues or gametes at ultralow temperatures, it enables the establishment of biobanks that may underpin future restoration and breeding programmes. Two principal approaches are employed: controlled‐rate freezing, which utilises stepwise temperature decline and permeating cryoprotectants to minimise ice‐crystal formation, and vitrification, in which high concentrations of cryoprotectants and rapid cooling convert water into a glass‐like state. Both methods have been adapted for a variety of sample types, from somatic skin biopsies to spermatozoa and oocytes. Field sampling protocols now often include minimally invasive skin punch or ear‐tissue collection, with subsequent laboratory processing to expand primary cell cultures before freezing. Developments in cryoprotectant formulation, such as combinations of ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide and non‐permeating sugars, have enhanced post‐thaw viability. Through integration with assisted reproductive technologies and somatic cell nuclear transfer, cryopreserved materials can contribute to ex situ conservation, bolster captive breeding and potentially support genetic rescue in situ.

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Cryopreservation Techniques in Wildlife Genetic Conservation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cryopreservation techniques in wildlife genetic conservation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cryopreservation: The process of preserving cells or tissues at ultralow temperatures to halt biological activity and metabolic processes.

Vitrification: A rapid cooling method using high concentrations of cryoprotectants to solidify aqueous samples into an amorphous, ice‐free state.

Cryoprotectant: A chemical agent that penetrates or surrounds cells to prevent ice‐crystal formation during freezing and thawing.

Biobank: A repository for long‐term storage of biological specimens, enabling future research, breeding or restoration efforts.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT): A reproductive technique in which the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred into an enucleated oocyte to generate an embryo.

References

1. Isolation, characterization, and cryopreservation of collared peccary skin-derived fibroblast cell lines. PeerJ (2020).
2. Establishment of Primary Adult Skin Fibroblast Cell Lines from African Savanna Elephants (Loxodonta africana). Animals (2023).
3. Combination of ethylene glycol with sucrose increases survival rate after vitrification of somatic tissue of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758). Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira (2018).