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DNA Repositories?

Posted by Cliff on from the can-I-CVS-checking-my-genetics dept.

Dixie_Flatline asks: "While I was riding into work today, an odd thought popped into my head. Do we have DNA repositories, a la Titan AE, or many other science fiction stories? Let's face it, we aren't being really nice to our environment, and we may be moving off this planet *some* day. Better to start a repository now while we still have things to make a repository of, right?" Interesting thought. What projects are under way to archive the DNA of animal species worldwide, especially those endanger of becoming extinct?

3 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Yes, We Do. by Crutcher · · Score: 2

    The ecologists have been doing sperm/egg samples for quite some time on the endangered species. Check with some of the bigger zoos about it, they should be able to steer you in the right direction.

    -- Crutcher --
    #include <disclaimer.h>

    --

    -- Crutcher --
    #include <disclaimer.h>
  2. Sort of... by Skald · · Score: 2
    It's got little to do with moving off the planet, but the Repository for Germinal Choice is a DNA repository. They're the "genius sperm bank" out in California that was the focus of a lot of controversy when they began years ago. Forget germ-line engineering, they're improving folks the old fashioned way... breeding them with Nobel Prize laureates and Olympic champions.

    I know this because they keep hassling me for my sperm. ;-)

    --

    "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." - Alexander Hamilton

  3. Kind of by quantanthropy · · Score: 2

    At this site is a list of repositories for plant germplasm: http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/rephomepgs.html . Most of it is for food type plants. I do remember seeing something recently about a group in England setting up a repository for plant seed and a mirror site in Scotland.