What does conservation look like?

ECOSYSTEM/HABITAT PROTECTION

True conservation starts with safeguarding the natural habitats of the species that do still exist so they can live, reproduce, and thrive.

Example: Restoring prairie ecosystems is crucial to the long-term survival of the black-footed ferret.

SUPPORTING WILD POPULATIONS NATURALLY

Conservation prioritizes natural breeding and population health.

Example: The black-footed ferret recovery program combines captive breeding, reintroduction efforts, and habitat restoration to help ensure ferret populations grow and thrive sustainably in the wild. By breeding ferrets in captivity and carefully releasing them into restored prairie ecosystems, the program provides the animals with the safe, natural environments they need to survive and reproduce. This integrated approach helps balance population growth with the ecological needs of the species and their habitat, ensuring a healthier, more stable future for the black-footed ferret in its native range.

THE USE OF SCNT/CLONING IN CONSERVATION

SCNT and similar cloning technologies do, in fact, have a place in conservation. They can help increase genetic diversity within endangered species that have experienced a natural genetic bottleneck. Maintaining a diverse gene pool is crucial because it reduces the risk that diseases could wipe out an entire population, thereby contributing to the long-term survival and resilience of the species.

Example: Scientists used preserved tissue samples from a ferret named Willa who died decades ago, to clone genetically identical offspring. This process reintroduced unique genetic material that had been lost from the population, helping to increase genetic diversity and improve the long-term resilience of this endangered species.

THE USE OF GENE EDITING IN CONSERVATION

Gene editing offers powerful tools to enhance conservation efforts by restoring and increasing genetic diversity within endangered species. It can reintroduce lost genetic variations using DNA from historical samples, helping populations adapt better to environmental changes and resist diseases. Additionally, gene editing can introduce beneficial traits, such as toxin resistance or climate tolerance, from closely related species to strengthen vulnerable populations. These precise genetic interventions complement traditional conservation approaches like habitat preservation and captive breeding, providing new ways to improve species resilience in rapidly changing ecosystems.

Example: Northern quolls, small marsupials native to Australia, face severe population declines due to the invasive cane toad, which was introduced by humans. These toads produce a deadly toxin that is often fatal to native predators like the quoll. Scientists are using gene editing to introduce immunity to this toxin in northern quolls by making precise changes to their DNA based on genetic resistance found in animals that naturally coexist with cane toads in South America. This gene-edited immunity is expected to allow quolls to survive encounters with cane toads, helping stabilize and recover wild populations. The edited quolls would pass this resistance to their offspring, creating a long-term solution to this human-created threat.