Context: India’s first ‘bio bank’ in a zoo has been set up at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park or Darjeeling Zoo in West Bengal.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Bio Banks; Darjeeling Zoo.
Major Highlights:
- The biobank was established in July 2024 and DNA materials — cellular and tissue samples — from 60 animals of 23 species have been collected, till date.
- The facility collects and preserves:
- Cell and tissue samples from endangered animals.
- Reproductive cells (gametes) from dead animals.
- The samples are being preserved in minus 196 degree Celsius in liquid Nitrogen in cryogenic state (Cryo-preservation). The samples can be stored in the biobank for at least 40 to 45 years.
- Initiative of: Darjeeling Zoo, in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Utility
- R&D: Samples can be preserved for future research. E.g., Study on mutations, impact of climate change on the organisms.
- Wildlife conservation: Samples can be used to potentially bring back critically endangered species that have gone extinct or are on the verge of extinction.
Cryogenics:
- Cryogenics is the study of the production and behaviour of materials at extremely low temperatures (below -150 degrees Celsius).
- Most common gases turned into liquid for cryogenics are: Oxygen, Nitrogen, Hydrogen and Helium.
Potential applications of Cryogenics:
- Cryosurgery: Cryogenic temperatures are used to kill unwanted or malignant tissues, such as cancer cells or moles.
- Cryopreservation: Preservation of organisms, tissue, and genetic material using cryopreservation. E.g., Freezing of eggs and embryos for fertility preservation and research purposes, storage of vaccines, blood banking, food preservation.
- Cryonics: Cryopreservation of animals and humans with the goal of reviving them in the future.
- Cryoelectronics: Study of superconductivity, variable-range hopping, and other electronic phenomena at low temperature.
- Cryoengines: Rocket engine using cryogenic fuels, including liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
- Research: Cryogenic technology is used in Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to determine the chemical structure of a molecule.
Biobanks
- Biobank is a repository of biological samples, such as blood, DNA, cells, tissues, and/or organs alongside their genetic data.
- It collects and preserves samples from animals and consenting individuals (humans) to carry out research.
- As of 2024, there are 19 registered biobanks in India, hosting many biological specimens, including cancer cell lines and tissues.
- They provide researchers with access to diverse genetic information, enabling the development of targeted therapies.
- India needs comprehensive biobanking regulations to govern the collection, storage, sharing, and ethical use of biological samples at par with global standards.
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
- Location: Darjeeling, West Bengal.
- Largest high altitude zoo in India.
- Specialises in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions, and has successful captive (conservation) breeding programs for species including:
- Snow leopard
- Endangered Himalayan wolf
- Red panda
- Major fauna: The zoo contains endangered animals like snow leopards, red pandas, gorals (mountain goats), Siberian tigers and endangered birds.