Abstract: When you open your freezer, you might find pizza or ice cream, but conservationists are storing something far more valuable at -196°C: the building blocks of life. These ultra-cold “biobanks” preserve animal cells such as sperm, egg cells, and skin cells, safeguarding the genetic diversity of species like tigers, pandas, and rhinos. The idea isn’t new, scientists have been freezing wildlife tissue since the 1970s, but the urgency has never been greater. Many threatened species, from gorillas to rare corals, still aren’t represented in these collections, leaving them dangerously exposed to extinction. By storing not only gametes but also somatic cells, biobanks capture more of a species’ genetic code, offering future scientists’ better chances to revive or strengthen dwindling populations.
Recent studies show that choosing which species to biobank isn’t as simple as “endangered first.” Sometimes it’s opportunistic, like collecting samples during zoo checkups, or guided by how much reproductive science we know about a species. Mammals are overrepresented because they’re easier to preserve, while insects, corals, or reptiles often get overlooked. That’s changing with efforts like the IUCN’s Animal Biobanking for Conservation group, which pushes for global cooperation to fill these gaps. The big challenge is to think ahead: by the time a species is critically endangered, genetic diversity is already shrinking. Biobanking animals that aren’t yet on the edge, like partula snails, could be the lifeline they’ll need tomorrow. With a coordinated strategy, freezers around the world may quietly become the unsung heroes of conservation.
Explore the full article here: Animals on ice: how conservationists use freezers to ‘biobank’ wildlife