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Cited by 50Genetic diversity and population structureGenetic and phenotypic traits in livestockGenomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Evaluating recovery potential of the northern white rhinoceros from cryopreserved somatic cells

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Tunstall, Tate, Kock, Richard, Vahala, Jiri, Diekhans, Mark, Fiddes, Ian, Armstrong, Joel, Paten, Benedict, Ryder, Oliver A. +1 more·2018·Genome Research
DOI 10.1101/gr.227603.117PMC PMC5991516
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Abstract

The critically endangered northern white rhinoceros is believed to be extinct in the wild, with the recent death of the last male leaving only two remaining individuals in captivity. Its extinction would appear inevitable, but the development of advanced cell and reproductive technologies such as cloning by nuclear transfer and the artificial production of gametes via stem cells differentiation offer a second chance for its survival. In this work, we analyzed genome-wide levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding, population history, and demography of the white rhinoceros sequenced from cryopreserved somatic cells, with the goal of informing how genetically valuable individuals could be used in future efforts toward the genetic rescue of the northern white rhinoceros. We present the first sequenced genomes of the northern white rhinoceros, which show relatively high levels of heterozygosity and an average genetic divergence of 0.1% compared with the southern subspecies. The two white rhinoceros subspecies appear to be closely related, with low genetic admixture and a divergent time <80,000 yr ago. Inbreeding, as measured by runs of homozygosity, appears slightly higher in the southern than the northern white rhinoceros. This work demonstrates the value of the northern white rhinoceros cryopreserved genetic material as a potential gene pool for saving this subspecies from extinction.

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  • With only two living northern white rhinoceros females, each with limited reproductive lifespans, artificial insemination and surrogacy are the final options for preserving the subspecies using preserved somatic cells from deceased individuals.

    “With only two living females each with limited reproductive lifespans, artificial insemination and surrogacy are the final options for preserving the subspecies utilising preserved somatic cells from deceased individuals [86].”

    From The Concept of Agency, Animal Wellbeing, and the Practical Realities of Ex Situ Breeding Programs in Zoos and Aquariums (2024) · cites this paper as [86]

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Cited by

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Authors
Tunstall, T., Kock, R., Vahala, J., Diekhans, M., Fiddes, I., Armstrong, J., Paten, B., Ryder, O. A., & Steiner, C. C.
Affiliations
  • San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research (US)
  • University of London (GB)
  • University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
ORCID
Venue
Genome Research
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Published
2018-05-24
Volume
28
Issue
6
Pages
780-788
ISSN
  • 1088-9051 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5469
DOI
10.1101/gr.227603.117
PMC
PMC5991516
OpenAlex
W2804708061
Cited by
50
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Genome Research (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation (#671846Y)
  • Seaver Institute (#0034017)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Keywords
northern white rhinoceros, genetic rescue, extinction prevention, genome sequencing, genetic diversity, inbreeding, runs of homozygosity, demographic history, demography, genetic admixture, divergence time, southern white rhinoceros, critically endangered species, cloning, nuclear transfer
MeSH terms
Animals, Conservation of Natural Resources, Inbreeding, Perissodactyla, Species Specificity, Genetic Variation, Cryopreservation

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