![]() Credit: Graphic: Masafumi Hayashi, Osaka University Here, embryonic stem cells of the southern white rhinoceros were used (C). Cell differentiation proceeded similarly in humans and rhinos. The graphic outlines the researchers’ plan (A), shows day 4 of the induction of primordial germ cells from rhinoceros pluripotent stem cells (B), and a comparison of the gene expression profiles of these cells in humans, mice, and southern white rhinoceroses. ![]() And so the northern white rhino subspecies, which humans have already effectively wiped out through poaching, may yet be saved thanks to state-of-the-art stem cell and reproductive technologies. The idea is to implant the resulting embryos into closely related southern white rhino females, who will then carry the surrogate offspring to term. To this end, the scientists are pursuing two strategies-one of them trying to generate viable sperm and eggs from the skin cells of deceased rhinos. The BioRescue project, which is coordinated by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, wants to save the northern white rhino from extinction. This represents a major milestone in an ambitious plan. With just two females left, this white rhino subspecies is no longer capable of reproduction-at least not on its own.īut all hope is not lost: according to a paper published in the journal Science Advances, an international team of researchers has successfully cultivated primordial germ cells (PGCs)-the precursors of rhino eggs and sperm-from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). ![]() They live together in a wildlife conservancy in Kenya. Thirty-three-year-old Najin and her daughter Fatu are the last surviving northern white rhinos on the planet. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |