DNA bank for threatened species

2000/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia

The disappearance of a group of animals may imply the joint disappearance of all groups of nearby species, endangering the biodiversity obtained. Therefore, the conservation of textile samples and genetic material for the conservation of threatened species has been proposed.

Most trials of quantifying the effects of extinction mention the accidental disappearance of species of mammals and birds. Therefore, the disappearance of a group of birds would not be very dangerous, since the next species would survive. However, Andy Purvis of Imperial College London affirms that the description is too optimistic, as threatened species have relationships between them.

Chimpanzee, lion and rhino are animals in danger of extinction. The disappearance of these species would mean the loss of 85 genera of mammals and 38 genera of birds, which would mean the disappearance of 850 million years of history. Therefore, when a group of animals disappears, other closely related species also disappear, which are vulnerable to similar factors.

A group of biologists of threatened species is organizing an international DNA bank. He is chaired by Oliver Ryder, a member of the Threatened Species Reproduction Center of the Zoological Society of San Diego, California.

In Ryder's opinion, it is not possible that clean DNA reproduces the species, but the transfer of DNA between organisms allows to transport useful properties, such as anti-disease.