Using the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as a Case Study to Illustrate the Development of Artificial Breeding Technology in Marsupials: an Update

Johnston, Stephen D.; Holt, William V.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-23633-5_12

Cited by 8 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Research progress leading towards the establishment of biobanks for other mammalian species is still at an early stage, possibly because of the technical difficulties associated with effective sperm cryopreservation despite extensive research efforts (see, for example, the difficult problems around cryopreserving marsupial spermatozoa ( Johnston, 2019 ; Johnston and Holt, 2019 ). Some researchers have argued that because sperm cryopreservation is so unlikely to succeed by the use of traditional cooling and freezing methods, it is now time to develop alternative approaches to genetic biobanking based on the use of cloning and stem cell technologies ( Rodger, 2019 ).…”

Section: What Is the Current Status Of Mammalian Biobanking For Conse...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biobanks, offspring fitness and the influence of developmental plasticity in conservation biology

Holt

2023

Anim. Reprod.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mitigation of the widely known threats to the world's biodiversity is difficult, despite the strategies and actions proposed by international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Nevertheless, many scientists devote their time and effort to finding and implementing various solutions to the problem. One potential way forward that is gaining popularity involves the establishment of biobank programs aimed at preserving and storing germplasm from threatened species, and then using it to support the future viability and health of threatened populations. This involves developing and using assisted reproductive technologies to achieve their goals. Despite considerable advances in the effectiveness of reproductive technologies, differences between the reproductive behavior and physiology of widely differing taxonomic groups mean that this approach cannot be applied with equal success to many species. Moreover, evidence that epigenetic influences and developmental plasticity, whereby it is now understood that embryonic development, and subsequent health in later life, can be affected by peri-conceptional environmental conditions, is raising the possibility that cryopreservation methods themselves may have to be reviewed and revised when planning the biobanks. Here, I describe the benefits and problems associated with germplasm biobanking across various species, but also offer some realistic assessments of current progress and applications.

show abstract

Section: What Is the Current Status Of Mammalian Biobanking For Conse...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biobanks, offspring fitness and the influence of developmental plasticity in conservation biology

Holt

2023

Anim. Reprod.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This can be observed most notably in marsupials ( Taggart et al 1996 , Unwin & Pettit 2004 ). So far, it has not been possible to cryopreserve any marsupial spermatozoa successfully and the only successful artificial insemination in a marsupial was achieved in the koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) using chilled, but not frozen, spermatozoa ( Johnston & Holt 2019 ). In this example, it is thought that dilution of koala semen for artificial insemination is complicated because koalas are induced ovulators, and it is thought that ovulating factors are present in the semen.…”

Section: Gamete and Reproductive Tissue Cryopreservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resurrecting biodiversity: advanced assisted reproductive technologies and biobanking

Bolton¹,

Mooney²,

Pettit

et al. 2022

Reproduction and Fertility

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biodiversity: the variety of all living organisms on Earth is essential for human survival. However, anthropogenic activities are causing the sixth mass extinction, threatening even our own species. For many animals, dwindling numbers are becoming fragmented populations with low genetic diversity, threatening long-term species viability. With extinction rates 1,000-10,000 times greater than is natural, ex situ and in situ conservation programmes need additional support to save species. The indefinite storage of cryopreserved (-196oC) viable cells and tissues (cryobanking), followed by assisted or advanced assisted reproductive technology (ART: utilisation of oocytes and spermatozoa to generate offspring; aART: utilisation of somatic cell genetic material to generate offspring), may be the only hope for species long-term survival. As such, cryobanking should be considered a necessity for all future conservation strategies. Following cryopreservation, ART/aART can be used to reinstate lost genetics back into a population, resurrecting biodiversity. However, for this to be successful, species-specific protocol optimisation and increased knowledge of basic biology for many taxa is required. Current ART/aART is primarily focused on mammalian taxa, however, this needs to be extended to all, including to some of the most endangered: amphibians. Gamete, reproductive tissue and somatic cell cryobanking can fill the gap between losing genetic diversity today, and future technological developments. This review explores species prioritisation for cryobanking and the successes and challenges of cryopreservation and multiple ARTs/aARTs. We discuss the value of cryobanking before more species are lost and the potential of advanced reproductive technologies not only to halt, but reverse biodiversity loss.

show abstract

“…Despite decades of research, practical advances in marsupial research have been isolated and major knowledge gaps remain (Rodger, 1991, 2019; Rodger et al., 2009; Witt & Rodger, 2018). Artificial insemination with frozen and thawed sperm has been attempted but without success; only the koala has had live births (Johnston & Holt, 2019). Much remains to be done to establish optimized female synchronization approaches to control estrus and ovulation in marsupials (discussed in Witt & Rodger [2018] and Rodger [2019]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling genetic benefits and financial costs of integrating biobanking into the conservation breeding of managed marsupials

Howell

Mawson

Comizzoli

et al. 2023

Conservation Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Using the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as a Case Study to Illustrate the Development of Artificial Breeding Technology in Marsupials: an Update

Cited by 8 publications

References 57 publications

Biobanks, offspring fitness and the influence of developmental plasticity in conservation biology

Biobanks, offspring fitness and the influence of developmental plasticity in conservation biology

Resurrecting biodiversity: advanced assisted reproductive technologies and biobanking

Modeling genetic benefits and financial costs of integrating biobanking into the conservation breeding of managed marsupials

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About