ANSC 4090 - Exotics Final Question Sets

This is all of the new question sets from after exam 2

How many individual cells the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has and how many species it represents?

11, 300 individual cell samples represent 1,200 species and subspecies of vertebrates

2- Which was one of the first species in danger that a zoo rescue and how?

Przewalski’s horse by cloning.

3- What is the main principle for choosing the right biotechnology, species and embryos to conserve endangered species? Give an example.

Use species with larger populations to help reproduce those with smaller populations. For example, the world’s first cloning of an Arctic wolf was achieved the year before last by using a domestic dog

4- What ethical dilemma arises when cloning pets like the dog Khan?

Clones are not exactly behavioral copies.

5- What is the permafrost and what is its major danger?

Permafrost is permanently frozen ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years. Its major danger lies in what happens when it thaws: the preserved organic matter begins to decompose rapidly, releasing microbes that produce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Since permafrost stores about 1,000 billion tons of carbon, its melting can significantly accelerate global warming. Which is one of the biggest mechanisms to prevent permafrost melting? How can animals help slow the rate of global warming in the Arctic? One important mechanism is snow removal. For example, large grazing animals such as bison can help by trampling and disturbing the snow cover, exposing the ground to colder air. This allows the soil to stay frozen for longer, helping to preserve permafrost and reduce the release of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide.

6- When is the first northern white rhino calf expected through IVF?

By 2026, using southern white rhinos as surrogate mothers

7- What is the alternative if IVF does not work in time to save the northern white rhino?

Other biotechnologies as cloning may be used, since only two females remain alive and the genetic base is very small.

8- How can researchers bring back extincted species like the Mammoth?

• First goal is to bring back cold resistant elephants - Through genome engineering, could be as few as 100 genes, gene edits comparable to pigs. - Identifying those DNA sequences that creates phenotypes and behaviors that are missing nowadays.

9- Why are scientists developing artificial wombs for animal surrogacy?

To avoid using endangered animals as surrogate mothers and to make gestation more ethical and practical, especially for long gestation species like elephants.

10- What is the moral hazard argument against de-extinction?

People might use the idea that species can be brought back later as an excuse to destroy habitats now instead of protecting them.

11- How many passenger pigeons does Ben Novak hope to eventually raise?

Up to one billion, to restore their ecological role as a major force of disturbance in North American forests.

12- What data are scientists collecting in Arctic Forest to support rewilding?

Levels of greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane) to show how herbivores can help cool the soil and sequester carbon.

13- What does de-extinction really mean according to the experts in the documentary?

De-extinction is both hubris and hope. It involves taking dead and extinct genes and lost biodiversity and bringing them back to help the future

1) Because of human related activities, the world is undergoing it's sixth mass extinction, the largest in 65 million years. Compared to the Natural Extinction rate, how many times is greater the extension rate the world is experiencing right now?

1000 to 10000 times greater

2) What is the problem with declining numbers of individuals within a species?

The genetic diversity is reduced threatening their long-term existence

3) What percentage of amphibians, mammals and bird species are being threatened with extinction?

41% amphibians 26% mammals 14% bird

4) Restoring habitants alone will not halt the ________ in biodiversity as many species are now _________, resulting in __________ populations with _________ __________ _________.

decline, fragmented, unviable, low genetic diversity

5) Within aART, what technologies have been highlighted as key to resurrect biodiversity?

SCNT and iPSC

6) A biobank is a repository of __________ __________, that is a searchable, ________ collection of biological samples and associated ________ stored predominantly for research or management, for example, of _______ ________.

biological samples, organized, data, captive populations

7) Successful maintenance and regeneration of a species are primarily dependent on?

Genetic biodiversity

8) __________ of a population undoubtedly contributes to ____________ and robustness of the effective _________ size.

heterozygosity, stabilization, population

9) True/false: Without adequate genetic diversity, any species will inevitably become extinct

true

10) What technology can be integrated with wildlife conservation to support captive breeding programs as well as to support in situ breeding programs?

Cryobanking

11) To improve the chances of success for conservation intervention and population management, sample collections should focus on the species that have?

Sufficient population sizes Sufficient genetic diversity

12) The utilization of existing conservation assessment schemes can be used as a way to prioritize the species for cryobanking efforts. Which are these conservation assessment schemes?

IUCN red list EDGE scheme

13) The process of prioritizing ___ _____ managed species for cryobanking needs to consider which individuals within the population are the most ______ ______ and _________ for future conservation efforts. In this way, maximizing the conservation value of banked samples and limiting the loss of _______ ________ within a population

ex situ, genetically valuable, suitable, genetic diversity

14) True/false: Assisted reproductive technologies/protocols developed in farm animals have successfully been utilized as model protocols for related species of exotic/endangered animals

true

15) Reproductive cloning has resulted in low success rate. Historically, what percentage of reprogrammed embryos has yielded viable offspring?

5-10%

16) The tissue chosen for cryopreservation and biobanking should yield viable cells following freezing and thawing. Additionally, it should be readily reprogrammable to generate iPS cells. Which cell type has demonstrated to be the obvious choice?

Fibroblast

17) Although iSCNT has been applied to many species resulting in the birth of offspring, by no means all of these were viable in the long term for several reasons including:

• Morphological abnormalities

• Premature delivery

• Lung maturity

• Stillbirths

• Placental separation

• Septicemia

Of the 18 penguin species, how many are globally threatened?

11

How many penguins are left in the world?

40 million

What species of penguin is classified as critically endangered?

The African penguin

Social interactions of male and female penguins stimulate the production of which two reproductive hormones?

Oxytocin and prolactin

True/False: Penguins have a cervix similar to most mammals.

False

Male penguins have an internal fold of skin similar to a penis. What is this structure called?

Phallus

When do smaller species of penguins reach sexual maturity and start breeding?

3-4 years old

What reproductive hormone of penguins suppresses LH?

Prolactin (PRL)

What is the length of time between the LH peak and ovulation for penguins?

24-72 hours

What is the site of deposition of sperm for artificial insemination of penguins?

oviduct

What site acts as the barrier and site of sperm storage for penguins, considering they do not have a cervix to perform these functions?

Utero-vaginal junction

Since hormonal induction of ovulation is not done in penguins, what do we manipulate to stimulate hormonal production?

The photoperiod (increasing daylight)

How long can female penguins store viable sperm in the oviduct?

Up to 1 week

What social influence on reproduction has proven to influence endocrine responses in penguins?

Vocalization

True or false: Vocalization in penguins causes in increase in male hormones such as testosterone, estradiol, and prolactin.

True

Do male or female hormonal changes drive the timing of reproduction in penguins?

Male hormonal changes

What is it called when penguins group up and have increased courtship behavior, copulation frequency, and coordinated breeding timing?

Temporal clustering of reproduction

When do most losses of embryos take place, leading to a low hatch rate of 66.7% in penguins?

During incubation

What biochemical marker is monitored that indicates yolk formation?

Triglycerides

What is the main assisted reproductive technique used for penguins?

Artificial Insemination

How many species of kangaroos are there? What are their names?

four species.

• Eastern Grey Kangaroo,

• Red Kangaroo,

• Antilopine

• Western Grey Kangaroo.

What is a group of kangaroos called?

a mob.

In red kangaroos are males or females redder in color?

Males

How many vaginas does a female kangaroo have?

3 vaginas

What is embryonic diapause?

allows for the development of one joey and ceases the development of another. Females can pause development of an embryo until the development of one of them is finished

What type of uterus do female kangaroos have?

duplexed uterus.

What type of penis do male kangaroos have?

fibroelastic penis.

How many glands do female kangaroos have in their pouch?

four glands.

How long is the estrous cycle in female kangaroos?

Estrous is 35-46 days.

What behaviors do male and female kangaroos express when in heat?

Males = vocalize and sniff the female. The female = urination, lick their pouch, restlessness, and enhanced mobility.

Why is non-surgical insemination more feasible in kangaroos?

permanent median vagina which provides a direct pathway to the cervices

What hormone stimulates kangaroo diapause?

An increase of prolactin

How long after birth until a female can get pregnant again?

Within 48 hours

Why is kangaroo gestation so short?

Because most of the development occurs in the pouch

What happens to the corpus luteum during pregnancy?

forms after ovulation, secretes progesterone, and then regresses early in the pregnancy.

What type of placenta does a kangaroo have?

Choriovitelline placentation

Where is semen deposited in kangaroos?

vaginally, >> urogenital sinus then the sperm move into the lateral vagina

Why do kangaroos have a lower sperm dose requirement than other marsupials?

During insemination the transport of sperm is more direct than other marsupials.

What are the signs of a pregnant uterus?

The uterus becomes thicker, heavier, and more metabolically active

What is the only known method used to successfully extract kangaroo sperm?

Electroejaculation

What is cryopreservation?

preserving living cells or tissues at very low temperatures, usually in liquid nitrogen, for later use.

What is a cryoprotectant?

substance that helps protect cells from freezing damage.

What are the types of cryoprotectants?

Permeable and non-permeable cryoprotectants.

List permeable cryoprotectants

Glycerol, ethylene glycol, and DMSO.

List non-permeable cryoprotectants

Sucrose, galactose, and glucose.

What are the two cryopreservation methods utilized to freeze oocytes or embryos?

Slow freezing/slow cooling and vitrification.

What does slow cooling involve?

use cryoprotectants, loads the sample into a straw, and cools it gradually before storage in liquid nitrogen.

What does vitrification involve?

expose sample to increasing cryoprotectant levels, load it into a device, and place directly into liquid nitrogen to prevent ice crystals.

Talking about reproduction, slow cooling was successful freezing what samples?

semen/sperm and in vivo-derived embryos, especially in livestock.

The development of vitrification allowed the cryopreservation of what samples?

Vitrification allowed better freezing of oocytes and in vitro-produced embryos.

Why is embryo collapse sometimes performed before cryopreservation?

to reduce blastocoel fluid >> lowering ice-crystal damage and improving survival after thawing.

What terrain do Cheetahs most commonly live in?

Open Grasslands and savannah

How many sub-species of Cheetahs are there?

5  

What are groups of cheetahs called?

coalition

How many days is the heat length for cheetahs?

1-3 days

Are cheetahs seasonal breeders?

No

How is ovulation induced?

Breeding and male vocalization

What percentage of sperm is abnormal?

70%

What type of AI is used in cheetahs?

Laparoscopic AI

Pregnancy length?

90-95 days

2 methods of pregnancy detection (cheetah)?

Ultrasound, Fecal analysis

How many offspring can cheetahs have?

1-6

What is the typical age for weaning?

18 months

How is semen collected for AI?

Electroejaculation under general anesthesia

What year was the first embryo transfer in cheetahs successful?

2020

What continent are cheetahs most commonly found in?

Africa

True/False: ICSI is widely used in cheetah assisted reproduction.

False

What family are cheetahs in?

Felidae

Besides Africa, what other place are cheetahs found in?

Iran

What do cheetahs eat?

Small herbivores if hunting by themselves, larger herbivores like wildebeests if hunting in a group