Wildlife Biobank

Wildlife Biobank : Recently, the National Zoological Park (NZP), Delhi, announced plans to create an on-site wildlife biobank to preserve genetic material like DNA, tissues, and reproductive cells from its animals for long-term conservation and research.

• About Wildlife Biobank : Functions as a ‘frozen zoo,’ storing DNA, cellular, and tissue samples from endangered animals at -196°C using liquid nitrogen.

  o This cryogenic preservation ensures genetic materials remain viable for future research, breeding programs, and species revival efforts.

  o The biobank aims to create a long-term genetic repository to help conservationists prevent species loss.

  o The facility supports genetic research on wildlife diseases, population genetics, and breeding techniques.

  o By preserving genetic samples, the biobank safeguards species against extinction caused by environmental threats and climate change.

  • Cryogenics is the study of producing and handling materials at extremely low temperatures below -150°C, commonly involving liquefied gases like oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium.