Conservation biobanking - what is it and why does it matter?
What is conservation biobanking, and how can preserved living cells help protect threatened species? Join three cell-science specialists to explore the Frozen Zoo® and the growing role of biobanking in conservation.
Hear from Marlys Houck and Ann Misuraca of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, home of the Frozen Zoo®, together with Palmerston North cell scientist Joanna Roberts of Flowjoanna. Discover how living cell collections are created and cared for, and why they matter for threatened species in Aotearoa and around the world. The talk will be followed by audience questions.
Supported by: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Flowjoanna, and the IUCN Center for Species Survival - Biodiversity Banking Partnership.
Ann Misuraca is a Senior Research Coordinator at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. As part of the cytogenetics team, she establishes fibroblast cell lines for the Frozen Zoo® . She is also responsible for photomicrography of chromosomes from cell lines and preparing the resulting karyotypes.
Marlys L. Houck is the Elizabeth J.F. Williams Endowed Curator of the Frozen Zoo® at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. In this role, she manages the cell culture and cytogenetics labs, overseeing daily sample acquisition, tissue culture, and karyotyping of cell lines accessioned into the Frozen Zoo®.
Joanna Roberts is a Scientist and Director at Flowjoanna, a cell science company based in Palmerston North. The Flowjoanna team work on projects in cell culture for conservation, flow cytometry for animal health, immunology related studies, and genome and cytogenetics research.