Govind Tekale
Scientists have discovered a valuable resource in the fight against extinction—the animal feces. Researchers from the University of Oxford, Chester Zoo, and Revive & Restore are collaborating on what they’ve dubbed the “poo zoo”—a revolutionary approach to preserve genetic diversity without disturbing the animals.
The concept behind this innovative conservation method is surprisingly straightforward. Fresh animal droppings contain living intestinal cells shed from the animal’s gut lining. These cells carry valuable genetic material that could help boost diversity within endangered populations.
“It’s very, very early stages,” said Prof Suzannah Williams of Oxford University, who is leading the team. “But so far it’s feeling very positive.” The researchers have isolated live cells from both mouse and elephant dung, suggesting the approach could work across different species.
Why It Matters
Traditional methods of collecting genetic material often are invasive procedures like tissue biopsies or samples from deceased animals. The “poo zoo” approach eliminates these limitations by providing a non-invasive alternative.
Chester Zoo conservation scientist John O’Hanlon said: “For many species, ensuring we have healthy populations in human care is not as easy as placing a male and female together and hoping they produce offspring. It is a skilled balance of expertise in animal husbandry, species genetics and understanding their reproductive mechanisms.”
This research arrives at a critical time as over one million species faces extinction threats as reported by an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
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From Cells to Offspring
The potential applications extend far beyond simply preserving genetic material. If successful, these cells could be reprogrammed to become “induced pluripotent stem cells”—cells capable of developing into any type of cell in the body, including sperm and eggs.
This breakthrough would enable scientists to produce offspring by techniques similar to IVF without needing to bring together animals that are otherwise inaccessible.
“If you use eggs and sperm, you get to leverage sexual reproduction and all of the recombination that happens during those events, and you get to really start to build the potential for adaptation to environmental stress,” said Dr. Ashlee Hutchinson, who conceived the idea of the “poo zoo” and serves as program manager at Revive & Restore.
Challenges Remain
Despite the promise, significant hurdles must be overcome. Processing animal dung requires handling large volumes of material—”think about buckets and sieves at the beginning,” explains Bolton.
“This is the most bacteria-heavy environment you could possibly collect cells out of,” explains William. A solution to this can be diluting samples and cultivating the animal cells with antibiotics and antifungals to eliminate bacterial burden and preserve human cells.
Understanding of the reproductive physiology of various species is also limited for many endangered animals, making scope for more research.
Part of a Broader Effort
The “poo zoo” represents one facet of a larger conservation movement. Biobanking—preserving living cells and tissues of endangered species at ultra-low temperatures—has been described as “essential” for safeguarding biodiversity.
Gene-editing projects by the UK-based Nature’s Safe, San Diego’s Frozen Zoo, and organizations like Colossal, are attempting to revive the woolly mammoth.
“I’m not saying we should stop protecting habitats and stop doing in situ conservation efforts,” Bolton said. “I just think because of the dire straits we are in, you need to try multiple different tools.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the “poo zoo” project? +
The “poo zoo” is a research project led by scientists from Oxford University, Chester Zoo, and Revive & Restore that collects live intestinal cells from animal feces. These cells contain genetic material that could help preserve biodiversity and potentially create offspring through advanced reproductive technologies.
How does collecting cells from animal droppings help endangered species? +
Unlike traditional methods that require invasive biopsies or samples from deceased animals, collecting cells from droppings is non-invasive and allows researchers to gather genetic material from elusive animals in the wild. This broader sampling helps preserve greater genetic diversity within species, which is crucial for their survival.
Could this technology actually produce new animals from feces? +
Potentially, yes. The live cells could be reprogrammed into stem cells that can develop into any cell type, including reproductive cells like sperm and eggs. These could then be used in IVF-like procedures to create offspring, though the technology is still in early development stages.
What challenges do researchers face with this method? +
Major challenges include processing large volumes of fecal matter, separating animal cells from bacteria, keeping the cells alive in culture, and understanding the reproductive biology of different species. The team is currently working on techniques to overcome these obstacles.
Is this replacing traditional conservation efforts? +
No. The researchers emphasize that the “poo zoo” approach is meant to complement traditional conservation methods like habitat protection, not replace them. They believe multiple tools are needed to address the current biodiversity crisis.
Has this approach been successful with any species so far? +
While the project is still in its early stages, researchers have successfully isolated live cells from mouse and elephant dung. The team is building on previous successes in related fields, such as the cloning of the black-footed ferret from decades-old frozen cells.
