Cloning Sabah rhino proposed
Published on: Saturday, August 06, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Cloning the Sumatran rhinoceros in Sabah successfully will not only put the state in global spotlight but may also be the last possible resort to save the critically endangered specie.The creature can be cloned so that future generations would still be able to see them, in the event of a worst case scenario if all 14 surviving in captivity now failed to reproduce more off-springs.University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) Vice Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Ghazally Ismail said such an example out of the movie Jurassic Park is possible once the genome of the Sumatran rhino or other important species on the brink of extinction are successfully sequenced to rescue or resurrect them.
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"The newly established laboratories at UCSF will be used for this flagship project which is expected to attract global attention," Prof Datuk Dr Ghazally said, adding that the project shall attempt to showcase the collaboration through a specific project mutually agreed by all participating agencies."To jumpstart this collaborative work, it is agreed that genome sequencing of the critically endangered Sumatran rhino should be pursued." He was speaking to the media to publicise the collaboration between UCSF represented by Prof. Mustafa Abdul Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Science and Sustainability, the University of Salford (UK) represented by Dr Robert Jehle, the University of Verona (Italy) represented by Prof. Massimo Delledonne and MUSE-Science Museum of Trento (Italy) over the last two weeks' 'In-Situ Genomic Bio-Exploration Maliau Basin' since ties were established in 2015, as well as on the production of a portable device for DNA sequencing in the field.The "all-in-one" portable device developed by the exploration team at the Trento Science Museum (MUSE, Museo delle Scienze di Trento), together with the University of Verona and Oxford Nanopore Technologies for DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing while in the field will allow scientists to obtain results faster without needing to bring samples back to the fixed lab for testing and storage.
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Scientists would now be able to genomically identify new species of plants and animals in the rainforest without having to kill and bring back the biological specimens to their laboratories for identification. Now they bring the lab to the forest instead of bringing samples back to the lab.
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"As a revolutionary step in biodiversity research, the team had in 2015 demonstrated the feasibility of DNA sequencing in the midst of a tropical rainforest in Tanzania which received global coverage in the journal Nature and in scientific documentary 'Minlons and Nanofrogs' by MUSE.The professors spent eight days at Maliau Basin Conservation Area to view facilities and field sites for three collaborative efforts in genomic lab for biological exploration and monitoring, genome sequencing of the Sumatran rhinoceros, and joint one-week student course on biodiversity monitoring by UCSF and University of Salford.The aim was to establish a Genome Lab permanent workshop in the Maliau Basin Field Centre, both for research and as a training centre on genomics for local as well as international scientists.The portable device has many applications in the field ranging from identification of new species of plants and animals to monitoring effectiveness in the conservation of Sabah's biodiversity.This collaboration will also seek funding to sequence the genome of the Sumatran rhino at least estimated between RM2-3 million compared to some RM40 million to upkeep rhinos in captivity for breeding."A high quality reference genome will be produced, and compared with as many rhino individuals as possible to capture the remaining genetic diversity of the entire species."In combination with reproductive technologies, this information should be crucial in saving them as well as other important species on the brink of extinction," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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