enhancing biodiversity through genetic rescue for ... ryan - species... · 40% of endangered...
TRANSCRIPT
enhancing biodiversity through genetic rescue for endangered
and extinct species
Ryan Phelan
Animal Biotech Summit
September 22, 2016
Genetic Rescue to Save a Species
Revive & Restore’s Black-footed Ferret Project
genetic rescue for endangered and extinct species
Once Thought to be Extinct . . . Now
Endangered
Presumed extinct
by 1950
Rediscovered in
Wyoming in 1981
(with 18 individuals)
EXTINCT
Founders
1985 Wild Meeteetse Population
(Generation 0-1)
Present Captive-bred Population (approx. 15-20 generations
descended)
BFF Study Demography
• Ferrets Captured from
Meeteetse
• Only a portion successfully
breed
• >8,000 kits born the next 30
years
• All are related like
cousins/siblings
• Artificial Insemination used for
first genetic rescue efforts
Individuals selected for whole genome comparison
SDFZ cell lines
Whole genome comparison goals:
• Assess changes in genetic diversity
• Assess genetic rescue efforts
• Assess genetic rescue potential of
SDFZ cell lines
Conclusions:
• Genetic diversity erosion (decrease
in heterozygosity and decrease in
unique variation) observed between
1985 individuals and Cheerio
• Balboa’s genetic diversity was
intermediate between 1985 and
Cheerio’s values
• 1985 individuals were distinct from
Cheerio’s variation (which is
descended from the founders)
ID 85 W2094 Willa
Balboa Cheerio
Experimental Design Meeteetse Genomes Extinct Populations’ Genomes
SNP
SNP shared by extinct populations, but absent
in Meeteetse Engineered “outbreeding” genome
Engineering Disease
Resistance
Skin Cells
Macrophage Cells
Modified Receptors
Testing genome-edits
in a petri dish
Genetic Rescue - The 5 Stages
In Vitro
CTCCCCCC
ATCCTTTC
TTCTCCTT
CTAGCCTC
CTCCACAG
TCGAAGCT
GGTGCAGG
AACAGGAT
TAGCCCAC
ACCTTGCC
ATCTTCTC
ACTCCACC
TTGCTGGT
GTCTCCTC
CATCCTAG
GGGCCATC
AACTTTAT
CACAACCG
CCATTAAT
ATAAAACC
CCCCGCCC
TTTCACAA
TACCAAAC
TCCCCTAT
TCGTATGA
TCGGTCCT
CATTACCG
CCGTCCTC
CTTCTCCT
ATCCCTCC
CAGTCCTT
GCCGCTGG
CATCACAA
TATTACTC
ACAG
In Silico
Genome sequencing
In Vitro
Genome editing
In Vivo
Genome-edited progeny
Ex Situ
Captive Breeding & Care
In Situ
Return to the wild
Genetic Rescue Candidates
• Black-Footed Ferret
• Hawaiian Crow
• Millerbird
• Grey Ox
• Red Wolf
• African Wild Ass
• Hunter’s Antelope
• Northern Hairy-Nosed
Wombat
• Christmas Island
Shrew
• Exuma Rock Iguana
GENETIC BOTTLENECK
• Scarlet Honeycreeper
• Kaua’i Creeper
• Mangrove Finch
• Layman Duck
• Baxter’s Toad
• Fleischmann’s Robber Frog
DISEASE-CHALLENGED
INVASIVE SPECIES PRESSURE • Amsterdam Albatross
• Fiji Crested Iguana
• Ashy Storm-Petrel
21st Century Conservation Challenges
• Disease
• Invasive Species
• Climate Change
• Extinction
…need 21st century solutions.
“We’re going to
have to science
the shit out of
this.”
Stamping Out Mosquitoes in Hawaii
Can new technology stop avian malaria from
driving Hawaii’s native birds to extinction?
‘Akeke‘e Robby Kohley
‘Anianiau Robby Kohley
Kaua‘i ‘Amakihi Robby Kohley
Maui Parrotbill (Kiwikiu) Robby Kohley
‘I‘iwi Robby Kohley
Maui ‘Alauahio Robby Kohley
Hawai‘i ‘Ākepa Robby Kohley
Hawai‘i Creeper Chris Farmer
Palila Keith Swindle
‘Akikiki Robby Kohley
‘Akiapōlā‘au Jack Jeffrey
‘Ākohekohe Robby Kohley
Genetic Rescue
Can new genomic tools solve conservation
problems such as exotic wildlife diseases and
destructive invasive species?
Cause of Island Extinctions: Invasive Species
Hawaii
Living
Endemic Bird Species
Invasives: • Destroy habitat • Kill young • Spread disease
Extinct
New Zealand
0
22.5
45
67.5
90
112.5
Cause of extinction
Bird Extinctions
Humans
Invasives
Guam
10 of 12 forest birds extinct in 60 years
Ecological functions have stopped
Current Method Limitations
• Must reach every rodent
territory
• Not species specific
(collateral death)
• Animal welfare issues
• Human interference
• Negative perception of
toxicants
“…A cynical move is underway to promote a new, powerful, and troubling technology known as “gene drives” for use in conservation. This is not just your everyday genetic modification, known as “GMO”; it is a radical new technology, which creates “mutagenic chain reactions”… using gene-drive technology for conservation is a ruse to gain public acceptance and regulatory cover.”
CALLS UPON the Director General and Commissions with urgency to assess the implications of Gene Drives and related techniques and their potential impacts on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity as well as equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources, in order to develop IUCN guidance on this topic, while refraining from supporting or endorsing research, including field trials, into the use of gene drives for conservation or other purposes until this assessment has been undertaken.
“The likely benefits of gene
drives for basic and applied research are significant and justify proceeding with laboratory research and highly-controlled field trials.”
ENGAGE THE PUBLIC — EARLY AND OFTEN
Align research with public values -Clearly articulate benefits and risks Clarify vision: • Restore biodiversity • Increase bioabundance • Self-managing populations