Genetics is a field with so much untapped potential! Dr. Oliver Ryder, Division Head of Genetics and Heidi Davis, Senior Research Technician at the research arm of the San Diego Zoo, told us about some astounding new genetic applications. At the Zoo, the main use of genetics is in the interest of conservation. We visited the Frozen Zoo, where we saw large, silver freezer tanks full of thousands of samples of genetic material harvested from animals all over the world. This collection is the largest in the world and the first ever established. Contrary to what first occurred to me, it is actually extremely uncommon to use samples from the Frozen Zoo to clone animals. Instead, this unique collection is more of an insurance policy against extinction, where geneticists focus on saving what they can and work on preventing extinction rather than delving further into research of what we have already lost. The purpose of the collection is to provide diverse resources that can track evolutionary trends and preserve genetic diversity, helping to keep the gene pool as varied as possible.

Genomic projects for endangered species can give people a better understanding of what an endangered species needs and optimize what we can accomplish and how many species we can save by studying their genetic makeup. The ‘alala, the Hawaiian crow, is a bird species on the verge of extinction. It is already completely extinct in the wild, and the few remaining in captivity are experiencing extremely low breeding success. Chicks do not make it to adulthood or have strange birth defects such as missing eyes. For this species, the study of genetics can make the difference between success and total extinction. By studying genetic data, it is possible to learn more about which genes produce this faulty outcome and to trace it back to its roots. Overall, the study of genetics can help improve animals’ health, and our ability to provide specific monitoring and management programs for endangered species.

It turns out that these conservation efforts have direct benefits for humans as well. Even after the original mapping of the human genome, roughly 60-70% of all human genes still have no known function. Most animals have genetic sequences that are extremely similar to those of humans, so the study of animal genetics can even help us understand ourselves better. If several species seem to have a prevailing sequence, then we can infer that this sequence must be important because it has persisted through evolutionary history in a variety of different species. Also sequences that reveal a higher propensity for disease transmission and acquisition can be discovered, leading to better treatments for affected species.  

Heidi, Conservation team

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