The Sixth Mass Extinction and Amphibian Species Sustainability Through Reproduction and Advanced Biotechnologies, Biobanking of Germplasm and Somatic Cells, and Conservation Breeding Programs (RBCs)
Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center for Amphibian and Reptile Resource Protection and Product Processing, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha 410022, China
Pei Wang
Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Chinese Giant Salamander’s Resource Protection and Comprehensive Utilization, School of Biological Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, China
Nabil Mansour
Fujairah Research Centre, University of Science and Technology of Fujairah, Fujairah P.O. Box 2202, United Arab Emirates
Svetlana A. Kaurova
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS, Pushchino 142290, Moscow Region, Russia
Edith N. Gakhova
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS, Pushchino 142290, Moscow Region, Russia
Natalia V. Shishova
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS, Pushchino 142290, Moscow Region, Russia
Victor K. Uteshev
Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, PSCBR RAS, Pushchino 142290, Moscow Region, Russia
Ludmila I. Kramarova
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino 142290, Moscow Region, Russia
Govindappa Venu
Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Zoology, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru 560056, Karnataka, India
Mikhail F. Bagaturov
IUCN/SSC/Athens Institute for Education and Research/Zoological Institute RAS, St. Petersburg 199034, Northern Region, Russia
Somaye Vaissi
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Baghabrisham, Kermanshah 57146, Iran
Pouria Heshmatzad
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Baghabrisham, Kermanshah 57146, Iran
Peter Janzen
Justus-von-Liebig-Schule, 47166 Duisburg, Germany
Aleona Swegen
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Julie Strand
Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7K, 9220 Aalborg Ost, Denmark and Randers Regnskov, Torvebryggen 11, 8900 Randers C, Denmark
Dale McGinnity
Ectotherm Department, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Nashville, TN 37211, USA
Primary themes in intergenerational justice are a healthy environment, the perpetuation of Earth’s biodiversity, and the sustainable management of the biosphere. However, the current rate of species declines globally, ecosystem collapses driven by accelerating and catastrophic global heating, and a plethora of other threats preclude the ability of habitat protection alone to prevent a cascade of amphibian and other species mass extinctions. Reproduction and advanced biotechnologies, biobanking of germplasm and somatic cells, and conservation breeding programs (RBCs) offer a transformative change in biodiversity management. This change can economically and reliably perpetuate species irrespective of environmental targets and extend to satisfy humanity’s future needs as the biosphere expands into space. Currently applied RBCs include the hormonal stimulation of reproduction, the collection and refrigerated storage of sperm and oocytes, sperm cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization, and biobanking of germplasm and somatic cells. The benefits of advanced biotechnologies in development, such as assisted evolution and cloning for species adaptation or restoration, have yet to be fully realized. We broaden our discussion to include genetic management, political and cultural engagement, and future applications, including the extension of the biosphere through humanity’s interplanetary and interstellar colonization. The development and application of RBCs raise intriguing ethical, theological, and philosophical issues. We address these themes with amphibian models to introduce the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Special Issue, The Sixth Mass Extinction and Species Sustainability through Reproduction Biotechnologies, Biobanking, and Conservation Breeding Programs.
