In early 2021, scientists successfully cloned a black-footed ferret—the first time a native endangered species has been cloned in the United States. This was done using frozen DNA from an animal that had been dead for 30 years.
The Smithsonian has been leading the field in frozen biomaterials and cryo-collections for many years. The Pan-Smithsonian Cryo-Initiative is one of the world’s largest frozen biological collections. It holds thousands of tissue and DNA samples. Smithsonian scientists have pioneered techniques to freeze and use sperm from the bank to rescue rare and endangered species.
Smithsonian scientists are also freezing coral larvae in hopes of regrowing reefs that have been destroyed by the effects of climate change. In addition to maintaining biodiversity, the Cryo-Initiative may eventually support human medicine by developing novel approaches to preserve fertility and store biomaterials at room temperature. Conserving species is a huge challenge, and this work shows how collaboration can lead to life-saving results.
Cryo lab Equipment
3D printed Coral
Black-footed ferret
A Portable Cryo-Container
Dry Shipper for Transporting Biomaterials at Ultra-Cold Temperatures (approximately -150 degrees Celsius or -238 degrees Fahrenheit)
Plastic straws for storing frozen sperm and embryos
Canes for organizing biomaterials stored in liquid nitrogen
Description: A large milk-can shaped container with a blue cap. It is about 19 inches tall and 7.5 inches wide. It has a handle for transportation. It has a removable metal insert. It is accompanied by lab materials, including the metal insert, which is a small and thick tube with a point attached to it, resembling a needle. It also comes with cyro sleeves, which have small straws in them. Cyro goblets, which are clear thick tubes. Cyro canes are included and are thin aluminum vial holders in the form of a small stick. They have openings along the stick that small vials can be placed into.
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Credit: Smithsonian divisions in the Cryo-Initiative include the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Saving Our Furry Friends
Black-footed ferret
(Mustela nigripes)
Description: A Black-Footed Ferret. It is a small animal that is long and thin. It has a short snout and small ears. It has short arms and legs. The arms and legs are all black. It has a big black mask around its eyes.
Credit: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, USNM588196
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Credit: Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Roshan Patel
Prairie Wildlife Research, Travis Livieri
prairiewildlife.org
Preserving Our Reefs
3D printed coral specimens
Acropora cervicornis
Herpetolithus crassus
Scolymia australis
Nylon
Description: A white replica of a coral. It is a structure that has many stick shaped pieces coming from a source that is shaped like a rock. It looks like it is coated in thick white paint. It stands on a white block.
Credit: 3D prints made from data collected by the Smithsonian’s Digitization Program Office for the National Museum of Natural History.
A video accompanies this object. Plug in headphones to hear the audio description.