The US Fish and Wildlife Service and biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences have signed an agreement to collaborate on the collection and long-term storage of biological material from rare and endangered species. As reported by Reuters, the BioVault project will create a cryogenic archive designed to store cells, reproductive tissues and genomic DNA of about 2,300 species of animals and plants.
BioVault is intended to be a public scientific resource with standardized samples and open access to genomic data worldwide. It is expected that the archive will be used to study biodiversity, manage populations of rare species and develop new approaches to their conservation and restoration.
Biological samples containing genetic information will be stored in liquid nitrogen at -321°F (-196°C) at Colossal's headquarters in Dallas, Texas, as well as other dedicated laboratories.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will determine the project's conservation priorities and provide the necessary regulatory support for sample collection, according to Colossal chief animal scientist Matt James.
The company said it will use tens of millions of dollars of its own funds to create and maintain BioVault. Moreover, the signed agreement does not involve the use of federal resources. The completion date for the project has not yet been set.
“The agreement establishes a framework for a partnership aimed at preserving genetic diversity among endangered species, expanding scientific understanding of the application of genomics to conservation, and exploring new technologies that will deepen recovery efforts for vulnerable species,” the Interior Department said in a statement.
Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm compared the BioVault project to the biblical Noah's Ark. According to him, the goal of biobanking is to preserve the genetic heritage of species before their numbers decline to critical levels.
“The point of the Noah's Ark metaphor is to preserve the imprint of life before it is lost, rather than wait until a species is on the brink of extinction. Noah did not build the ark after the flood. It's about preparing, preserving and being able to restore what might otherwise be lost forever,” Lamm said.
He noted that the archive will store genomic and biological data reflecting the genetic diversity of entire populations. The genetic information of each species preserved by BioVault “will be protected from worst-case scenarios,” he said.
Colossal bills itself as a company dedicated to reviving extinct species and restoring biodiversity. Last year she said she had genetically recreated the dire wolf, an extinct Ice Age predator.
