Author
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Dobrinsky, John |
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Submitted to: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Considerable progress has been made in the improvement and simplification of preservation procedures routinely used for sperm, oocytes and embryos. Conventional freezing and vitrification of germplasm and embryos have given veterinarians, scientists and producers alternatives in herd reproduction. While routinely for cattle, there are few preservation methods available or reffective for germplasm and embryos of other farm animals. This paper discusses germplasm preservation without elaborating on technical aspects, as well as global potential for germplasm and embryo preservation and how it would provide a foundation for effective utilization of the world's best genetic resources on a global basis while modernizing production and enhancing genetic improvement programs. It discusses novel development of germplasm preservation in a common farm species other than cattle, the pig, illustrating how modern science can be applied to solve difficult biological questions. Finally, it discusses conceptually how germplasm preservation may be applied and implemented in propagating desirable genetics on a global basis. It is evident from the cattle industry what an impact germplasm or embryo preservation can have on the global production. Although swine is far behind cattle, research has uncovered developmental differences between species and allowed solutions to be found. If we can do it with pigs, we can do it with other domestic farm animal species too. Technical Abstract: Considerable progress has been made in the improvement and simplification of preservation procedures routinely used for sperm, oocytes and embryos, especially in cattle. Conventional programmable freezing and vitrification of germplasm and embryos have given veterinarians, scientists and producers alternatives in their herd reproduction practices. While continuously being gimproved upon for use in cattle, there are few methods available, tested o proven effective with germplasm and embryos of other common domestic farm animals. This paper discusses concepts and breadth of germplasm preservation without elaborating on detailed technical aspects. It also discusses novel development of germplasm preservation in a common farm species other than cattle, the pig, illustrating how modern science can be applied to solve some of the most difficult biological questions. Finally, it discusses conceptually how germplasm preservation may be applied and implemented in propagating desirable genetics on a global basis. |
