Conservation

There is a need for the preservation of viable cell samples from unique sources in liquid nitrogen. This includes specimens which are taken from animals and cell lines which are the subject of scientific publication and samples from endangered species. Currently little systematic collection of this type is being done.

The bulk storage methods in use for the storage of biological samples (e.g., 5 ml O-ring seal plastic containers and flame sealed glass containers) are rather crude. A much more compact method of storage is needed such as the granulation of samples by freezing of droplets into poppy seed sized particles -- and storage with diethyamine (a gas) to avoid clumping -- in liquid nitrogen. Such a technique is well within the means of current technology. This method allows the removal of only a small portion, a few granules, leaving the rest of the granules undisturbed and unmelted.

The proper systematic collection of viable biological samples in a compact manner is a very urgent task. While some collections exist, they represent only a small fraction of the biota at risk. The use of the granulation process would make this undertaking much more effective in that the density of samples for the collections would be much greater.

It is both reasonable and proper to assert that humanity holds a common law right in all non-human genetic material. It is important to make these viable materials available to the general public, particularly to the scientific community, at a reasonable cost and in a uniformly prime condition.

As much of such material can not be adequately gauged as to specific value, it is important that those materials which are clearly of value should help pay for the maintenance of the collections, their care and distribution and for acquisition of new materials.

The accelerating rate of extinction of animals and plants, particularly in the tropics, is of concern to many people. In some areas the elimination of species is due to the encroachment of human habitations and the expansion of cultivated regions. In some instances, the cause is traceable to environmental changes. Much of the loss however is due to natural evolutionary processes. Conservation and breeding programs have been established to sustain specific populations of endangered species, some with considerable success (for example, the California Condor Program). These programs however are the exception and the general rule is that very little is being systematicly preserved.

A large zoo like the San Diego Zoo in southern California, for example, on average, loses about one animal a day. Most of the fish sold for private aquariums -- at least 80% -- die within 3 years. The loss rate for major public aquariums is also high.

Today and in the past, the collection of biological samples in the field by professionals has resulted in the storage of nonviable samples except where specific research required viable samples. Most specimens wound up in a jar of formaldehyde.

The scientific publications produced by the staffs of the major institutions which finance and conduct these field trips are noteworthy and needed. However, it is not uncommon to visit such collections, which are frequently housed well away from public view, and find that the contents of hundreds of large specimen-filled jars -- which were collected 50 or 60 years ago (or more) -- remain unexamined (largely due to lack funding and/or qualified staff).

The death of substantial numbers of animals in zoos and aquariums should be balanced against the fact that many animals and fish live longer in such a sheltered environment than they would in the wild. Also many of the specimens collected by major institutions on field trips are not from species which are or which could be termed endangered.

The preservation of given habitats to sustain a diverse population of plants and animals is one important approach to the conservation of diversity. It must be understood however that all habitats sooner or later are subjected to great stress (e.g., hurricanes in the tropics and unusually dry, hot or cold spells elsewhere). Not infrequently such stress has destroyed an abundantly populated habitat with most of its flora and fauna.

It is estimated that less than half of the unique strains of cell lines and/or geneticly unique lab animals (mice, rats, etc.) upon which scientific publications are based are still in existence. Just viewed as a basic resource for checking prior results or to widen the breadth of earlier work, this loss is particularly serious.

Most research facilities do not systematicly distribute their materials to other facilities except when given materials are requested. Thus at many facilities, the viable biological materials are unique and are at risk (e.g., by contamination, earthquake, failure of support equipment, accidents by staff, etc.).

Also there are occasionally problems with misidentification of samples. The proper taxonomic identification of specimens collected in the field is a continuing concern.

Dr. Park, et al, established and published a report in 1946 disclosing that viable cell lines could be preserved in liquid nitrogen for indefintely long periods of time if properly prepared. The ability to preserve such materials in this manner is now well established. Society and the scientific community however have not made this collection and storage effort a high priority. Only in the last few decades has this continuing loss been perceived as an increasingly urgent problem.