Bioresource Banking

Preserve the legacy of life by maintaining, utilizing, and sharing genetic resources in support of conservation.

• Increase our involvement in endangered plant seed banking

San Diego is home to more species of endemic plants than any other county in the continental United States. At the same time, our region contains more threatened and endangered species than any other on the continent, the vast majority of which are plants. Seed banking has recently emerged as an invaluable tool to prevent the loss of native plant biodiversity. The first of its kind in the region, the CRES Native Seed Gene Bank is positioned to provide banked material to support research, conservation, restoration, and management. Our goal is to bank seeds from all 1,550 of San Diego’s native plant species over the next decade.

• Expand the depth and breadth of the species resource foundation of the Frozen Zoo ®

Containing over 7,000 samples from more than 675 species, the Frozen Zoo is the world’s largest collection of living cell lines and gametes. It represents an irreplaceable resource that serves as a crucial tool for managing and enhancing gene pools, promoting sustainable collection management, facilitating studies to inform conservation decisions, and preserving the legacy of life for future generations. The Frozen Zoo is positioned not only to help us address current conservation needs, but also those yet to emerge.

• Develop and establish stem cell resources to support conservation efforts

Stem cells are the ideal genetic resource because of their potential to create whole organisms, including germ cells that are capable of generating sperm and eggs. CRES scientists are exploring new potential applications of stem cell resources to sustainable population management, disease treatment, and the induction of resistance to genetic diseases through germ cell engineering. Initially, we are focusing on the critically endangered northern white rhino.

• Devise improved field collection and preservation methods for harvesting plant and animal germplasm

Collecting and preserving germplasm is critical to the sustainable management of captive and wild populations. It allows transfer of genetic material without the need to transport animals, reduces importation of animals from the wild, and supports the development of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. With an emphasis on endangered carnivores, CRES researchers are pioneering new techniques for collecting and preserving germplasm in the field.

• Contribute to global networks for preserving bioresources by sharing our databases and leading cooperative banking efforts

CRES is committed to sharing information and developing cooperative bioresouce banking efforts with our conservation partners worldwide. Global databases achieved through collaboration provide the knowledge base needed to prioritize and focus conservation efforts, identify and recognize new species, inform habitat conservation planning and reserve design, and support enforcement of international legislation to combat overharvesting of wild plants and animals. We provide DNA and cell cultures to scientists around the world.