Scientists Hope Lab-Grown Embryos Can Save Rhino Species From Extinction
Rhino embryos created in a lab are raising hopes that high-tech assisted reproduction may help save the northern white rhino, the most endangered mammal in the world. [...] The last male, a rhino named Sudan, died in March. But before the males died off, wildlife experts collected and froze sperm. Now, in the journal Nature Communications, scientists say they successfully have used this stored sperm [open, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04959-2] [DX] to fertilize eggs taken from a closely related subspecies, the southern white rhinoceros.
The resulting hybrid embryos started to develop in a lab dish. Two were frozen for later implantation into a surrogate rhino, although the researchers note in their paper that "the embryo transfer procedure has yet to be developed and validated in rhinoceroses." Still, the researchers are hopeful that once they get this working with hybrid embryos, they can use the same techniques to produce pure northern white rhino embryos.
To make those, they'll need eggs from the two remaining northern white rhinos. Jan Stejskal, of the Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic — where rhinos Najin and Fatu were born — says the team has requested permission to obtain the eggs, "but it's not granted yet." Still, he hopes the research team can go to Kenya to collect them by the end of the year.
Previously: Last Male Northern White Rhino 'Sudan' Falls Ill as Species Edges Closer to Extinction
Last Male Northern White Rhino Dies
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There are three northern white rhinoceroses left. The last male of this subspecies lives in Kenya and is already quite old for his kind of animal. He is ailing now.
But recently, a secondary and much deeper infection was discovered beneath the initial one and Sudan was taking longer to recover, "despite the best efforts of his team of vets who are giving him 24-hour care", the organisation said.
There are two other white rhinos left in the world – a female named Najin and daughter Fatu, both also living at the conservancy in Kenya. Health problems or their ages – around 28 and 17, respectively – have left them unable to reproduce.
Wildlife experts and conservationists expressed deep regret over the prospect of the northern white rhino completely dying out. Technically, the species is already classified as extinct because it no longer exists in the wild, conservationists said.
The last few there and elsewhere have been protected 24/7 by heavily armed guard to try to slow down poaching. However, poaching and the other underlying reasons for the impending extinction are unlikely to be solved within the next few decades.
Sources:
Last male northern white rhino Sudan falls ill as species edges closer to extinction. South China Morning Post
The world's last male northern white rhino is on death watch. CNN
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
The world's last surviving male northern white rhino has died after months of poor health, his carers say. Sudan, who was 45, lived at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. He was put to sleep on Monday after age-related complications worsened significantly. His death leaves only two females - his daughter and granddaughter - of the subspecies alive in the world.
"His death is a cruel symbol of human disregard for nature and it saddened everyone who knew him," said Jan Stejskal, an official at Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic, where Sudan had lived until 2009. "But we should not give up," he added in quotes carried by AFP news agency. "We must take advantage of the unique situation in which cellular technologies are utilised for conservation of critically endangered species. It may sound unbelievable, but thanks to the newly developed techniques even Sudan could still have an offspring."
[...] Sudan, who was the equivalent of 90 in human years, was the last surviving male of the rarer variety after the natural death of a second male in late 2014.
[...] Sudan's genetic material was collected on Monday, conservationists said, to support future attempts to preserve the subspecies. The plan is to use stored sperm from several northern white rhino males, and eggs from the remaining younger females, and implant the embryo in a surrogate southern white rhino.
-- submitted from IRC
Northern white rhino: New hopes for IVF rescue
A new study raises hopes of saving one of the last animals of its kind. A victim of poaching, the northern white rhino population has been reduced to just two females, which are both unable to breed.
DNA evidence shows the rhino is more closely related than previously thought to its southern white cousin. Creating rhino hybrids using IVF is likely to have a positive outcome, say scientists, although this option is considered a last resort.
The white rhino split into two divided populations living in the north and south of Africa around one million years ago. But an extensive analysis of DNA from living rhinos and museum specimens shows the northern and southern populations mixed and bred at times after this date, perhaps as recently as 14,000 years ago.
[...] In July, one team took eggs from female southern rhinos - which number around 20,000 in the wild - and fertilised them with frozen sperm from a male northern white rhino, to create hybrid embryos.
The new study suggests this sort of approach might pay off, given that the two rhinos are closer genetically than once thought. "We think it improves the chances," said Prof Bruford. "It is difficult to predict what might happen if we cross the two subspecies but given the current options for the northern white rhino it becomes a more viable option, should other approaches fail."
Other options include using frozen tissue from a wider pool of northern white rhinos to generate stem cells that have the capacity to develop into eggs and sperm. This would avoid diluting the gene pool, but is more challenging to achieve.
Previously: Saving the Northern White Rhinoceros with Science
Last Male Northern White Rhino 'Sudan' Falls Ill as Species Edges Closer to Extinction
Last Male Northern White Rhino Dies
Genetic Intervention Could Save the Northern White Rhino From Extinction
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday July 10 2018, @04:35PM
Hunting the feral rhino, the hunter did not see the other rhino sneaking up on him.
"Clever girl"
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2, Disagree) by PinkyGigglebrain on Tuesday July 10 2018, @05:28PM (6 children)
since the egg donor is from a subspecies and not a true Northern white rhino then, as the article mentioned, the result is going to be a hybrid.
"when the last of a species breathes no more, another Heaven and Earth must pass before such a one can be again."
The Northern white rhino is gone. And Humans are responsible, hunting, habitat loss, etc.
My opinion: these efforts to "recreate" a species that died out (possibly) due to Humans, like this rhino or the wooly mammoth, are nothing more than an attempt to deal with the some vague feelings of guilt that some people feel because of what their species did at some point in history. Cool science but nothing more than a gimmick.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday July 10 2018, @05:44PM
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @05:44PM
while i largely agree with your sentiment, the summary said there are two northern white rhino females still alive, but that they were trying with southern white rhino females first.
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Tuesday July 10 2018, @05:46PM (3 children)
Did you miss the "...the researchers are hopeful that once they get this working with hybrid embryos, they can use the same techniques to produce pure northern white rhino embryos."
My opinion matches yours, but with more enthusiasm that "cool science" is always in order.
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Tuesday July 10 2018, @05:47PM (2 children)
Damn, last in line for the gangrape...
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday July 10 2018, @05:48PM (1 child)
Every gangrape needs a finisher?
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:13PM
FINISH HIM!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @05:52PM (1 child)
i don't understand why when i've been hearing about the plight of rhinos since i was a kid did they manage to wait until there was only one male rhino left before collecting sperm. where were the rhino wackers when there were 2, 5, 10 still left?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @07:55PM
To convince the rhinos to let them jack them off. Do you know how many zoologists were lost trying to masturbate northern white rhinos?
Me neither. But since they have only been successful in the past 10 years, I have to assume they lost a lot!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @07:46PM (1 child)
Considering it's the WHITE rhino it probably deserved to die ...
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:12PM
Wow. Just the slightest mention of the word "white" triggers the alt-right whackjobs and they crawl out of the woodwork and start sobbing.