Frozen Ark

Frozen Ark
Name	Frozen Ark
Formation	2008
Type	Charitable trust
Purpose	Preservation of genetic material from threatened species
Headquarters	University of Nottingham
Region served	Global

Frozen Ark

Frozen Ark is an international initiative established to preserve genetic material from threatened and endangered animals for long-term scientific use. Founded by a consortium of scientists and institutions, it operates alongside universities, museums, and conservation bodies to create a coordinated biobanking network. The project intersects with major conservation programs, zoological collections, and biodiversity initiatives across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australasia.

History

The project was initiated in the late 2000s by a coalition including the University of Nottingham, the University of Leicester, University of Oxford, and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland to address gaps identified by researchers involved in the IUCN and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Founders included scientists affiliated with the Natural History Museum, London and the NHM Cambridge community linked to the Darwin Initiative and the RSPB. Early partnerships reached out to established repositories such as the Smithsonian Institution and the British Museum network, and to academic groups at the University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh, and University of Cambridge. The initiative quickly connected with conservation NGOs like WWF, ZSL (Zoological Society of London), and regional zoo networks including the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Mission and Objectives

The core mission aligns with targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and agendas from the IPBES to mitigate biodiversity loss documented by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the IPCC where relevant. Objectives include cryopreservation of DNA, gametes, and tissue for species prioritized by lists from the IUCN Red List, the EDGE of Existence program, and national conservation strategies such as those of the United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The initiative supports research agendas promoted by the Royal Society and funding frameworks like the European Research Council.

Collections and Specimens

Specimens encompass collections sourced from partners including the Natural History Museum, London, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for complementary plant work, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and university museums such as the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Holdings include frozen tissue, blood, sperm, eggs, cell lines, and DNA extracts from taxa prioritized by the IUCN and regionally significant species cataloged by organizations like the African Wildlife Foundation, Conservation International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Collaborating zoological parks such as the Chester Zoo and the ZSL London Zoo contribute samples alongside field programs coordinated with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

Methods and Technology

Cryogenic methods are central, drawing on protocols validated in the Cryobiology literature and institutional standards from the European Bank for Animal Cell Cultures and the American Type Culture Collection. Techniques include vitrification, controlled-rate freezing, and liquid nitrogen storage compliant with standards similar to those used by the European Nucleotide Archive and laboratory practices at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Molecular workflows involve DNA and RNA extraction methods used by groups at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo. Bioinformatics interoperability follows schemas championed by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and data sharing practices compatible with the GenBank repository and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The initiative partners with academic institutions such as the University of Sheffield, University of Glasgow, University of York, and the University of St Andrews, and engages with conservation organizations including BirdLife International, TRAFFIC, and the African Parks Network. Museum collaborations extend to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. International research ties include projects with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for regional sampling. Funding and programmatic links exist with foundations like the Nuffield Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation supporting technical development and capacity building.

Governance and Funding

Governance is administered through a charitable trust model with an advisory board drawn from institutions such as the Royal Society, the Zoological Society of London, and universities including University College London and Imperial College London. Funding streams have included grants from national research councils like the UK Research and Innovation and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, philanthropic support from entities such as the Wellcome Trust, and project funding involving the European Commission under research frameworks. Operational costs are shared with partner biobanks and supported by in-kind contributions from museum collections and zoo laboratories.

Impact and Criticism

Impact claims highlight contributions to conservation genetics research cited by authors affiliated with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge and practical support for captive-breeding programs at institutions like the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Auckland Zoo. The archive has been referenced in policy discussions at venues such as the United Nations Environment Programme and the CBD Conference of the Parties. Criticisms mirror debates in forums hosted by the Royal Society and conservation scholars at the University of Sussex regarding priorities between ex situ genetic banking and in situ habitat protection advocated by groups like Friends of the Earth and some IUCN delegates. Ethical and legal issues concerning sample sovereignty and benefit-sharing have been raised in contexts involving the Nagoya Protocol, the World Health Organization and national biodiversity legislations debated in parliaments including the UK Parliament and the European Parliament.

Category:Biobanks Category:Conservation organizations