{"id":58072,"date":"2023-09-19T10:05:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T08:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharma-trend.com\/en\/colossal-biosciences-joins-biorescue-in-its-mission-to-save-the-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction\/"},"modified":"2023-09-19T10:05:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T08:05:18","slug":"colossal-biosciences-joins-biorescue-in-its-mission-to-save-the-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharma-trend.com\/en\/colossal-biosciences-joins-biorescue-in-its-mission-to-save-the-northern-white-rhino-from-extinction\/","title":{"rendered":"Colossal Biosciences Joins BioRescue in Its Mission to Save the Northern White Rhino From Extinction"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nWith only two living females left, the partnership will contribute to the genetic recovery of the northern white rhino from complete extinction. Colossal developed a pioneering toolkit for the challenging task to restore genetic diversity from museum specimens for a living population of critically endangered species.<\/i><\/p>\n

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Colossal Biosciences<\/a> (\u201cColossal\u201d), the world\u2019s first de-extinction company, and BioRescue<\/a>, a consortium initiating and leading the scientific rescue mission of the northern white rhino employing advanced assisted reproduction technologies and stem cell associated techniques, have teamed up to save the northern white rhino from extinction. The partnership will also develop a roadmap for future rescue missions of endangered species using the world leading expertise of both organizations. Together they will work to improve, develop, and implement strategies in the fields of wildlife conservation research and wildlife veterinary medicine, providing approaches to reduce the sixth mass extinction.<\/p>\n

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\nThe northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni<\/i>) is considered to be functionally extinct in the wild as a direct result of poaching. Its natural habitats include parts of Uganda, Chad, Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. All these areas were completely emptied out of this charismatic megavertebrate more than a decade ago. The only two living females were born in the Czech ZOO Dv\u016fr Kr\u00e1lov\u00e9 and are being cared for at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya since 2009.<\/p>\n

\nProf. Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt, Project Head at BioRescue, Head of the Department of Reproduction Management of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, and Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Colossal, has spent over 25 years on a mission to save the northern white rhino species. He has led the efforts with BioRescue to convey how synthetic biology can be used in addition to the genetic rescue techniques that are already in place. \u201cThe northern white rhino is the world\u2019s rarest large mammal and thousands of species are interlinked to its existence,\u201d says Hildebrandt. \u201cWith Colossal\u2019s advanced genetic technology, we will be able to piece together the missing links of the species\u2019 genetic history. Following decades of assisted reproduction and stem cell innovations made by scientists and conservationists, I\u2019m thrilled that the partnership between Colossal and BioRescue will help to establish a sustainable and genetically robust northern white rhino population.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nThe new partnership will assess the genetic diversity of the northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni<\/i>) in historic samples as the basis for ethically evaluated decisions on possibly enhancing the genetic variability of a future northern white rhino population. This groundbreaking conservation strategy is accompanied by exemplary transparency of the project\u2019s undertakings to the general public.<\/p>\n

\nThe Science Behind the Conservation<\/b><\/p>\n

\nColossal will assist the rescue mission by leveraging genome sequencing and gene editing methods to save the endangered species. The focus on the edits will be to improve genetic diversity in living cells and mitigate impacts of disease or lost adaptability to the changing climate.<\/p>\n