Sheree Bega
JOHANNESBURG: A team of US researchers hope to use a rare black rhino in Limpopo as a pioneer for genome sequencing – and to possibly help bring extinct black rhino subspecies back into existence.
By the end of the year, researchers from Pembient, New Harvest and the University of Washington hope to become the first in the world to sequence the genome of the critically-endangered black rhino, using the Limpopo animal nicknamed Ntombi as the rhino’s genetic material.
Sequencing the genome of the black rhinoceros offers numerous benefits, said Matthew Markus, founder and chief executive of Pembient, a biotech firm in San Francisco.
“The data held therein can aid in the care, breeding, and tracking of the species. Beyond initially producing a reference genome for the black rhinoceros, we eventually hope to sequence each subspecies of black rhinoceros to understand the extent of genetic divergence within and between rhinoceros species.
“This work may help future researchers looking at ways to bring the three currently extinct black rhinoceros subspecies back to life using de-extinction technologies.”
Markus is part of a team of US biologists developing bio-engineered batches of fake rhino horn powder they believe could help save South Africa’s rhinos from extinction. He explains that eight original rhino subspecies have been “poached to extinction”, with the remaining five subspecies critically endangered.
Only 5 055 black rhino remain in the wild.
“Having the black rhino genome will allow conservationists to gain insight into the dynamics of this endangered species.”
Markus noted how the Broad Institute of MIT has sequenced the genome of the southern white rhinos while the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research is about to sequence the genome of the almost extinct northern white rhinoceros.
“For some reason, the black rhinoceros has been ignored. We feel this is a huge oversight, and we would like to correct it. Ntombi is our pioneer in this effort.”
Genome sequencing, he points out, is already being used to combat bio-diversity loss. Scientists had used the same methods for conservation efforts around the Crested Ibis and Northern white rhino.
The black rhinoceros has 84 chromosomes, while the white rhino has 82 “so it should be interesting to examine the extra chromosomes”.
“This is an exciting time for stem cells and bioengineering. We’re on the cusp of unlocking the secrets of the black rhinoceros and using this information to better understand and conserve this majestic species.” added Dr Charles Murry, the principal investigator on the project, from the University of Washington’s institute for stem cell and regenerative medicine.
“So far the team has raised $9 000 (R110 000) – just more than half its goal of $16 500 (R201 000). When that is reached, work will start, shipping already preserved samples of Ntombi’s blood and tissue to the university in the US.
“Then the actual sequencing will happen. Next, her genome will be computationally aligned to the existing white rhinoceros genome. Finally, the entire assembly will be made publicly available through the DNA nexus platform,” said Markus.