Wildlife on ice: Singapore freezing animal cells in bid to preserve native life
The Straits Times reported on Singapore's own Noah's Ark of sorts, that will house frozen cells and tissues of South-east Asian animals.
Mandai Wildlife Group, manager of Singapore's five wildlife parks, uses special cooling technology to keep the frozen cells viable.
After the cells are thawed, they will be able to replicate and grow.
So far Mandai's conservation arm — Mandai Nature — has successfully banked the live cells of 10 bird species including the endangered lilac-crowned amazon, milky stork and Bali myna.
This kind of effort is called biobanking, a means of preserving and storing biological material from living matter whether flora or fauna and most often utilizing cryopreservation where samples are kept in sub-zero temperatures, frozen.
Mandai Nature CEO Sonja Luz has stated that the biobanks' main goal is conservation.
She told ST: 'For now, our aim is to collect, freeze and store as many samples as possible to create a safety net for some of the most threatened species of our region. Our goal is conservation, and nothing but that.'
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Malay Mail
21 hours ago
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Wildlife on ice: Singapore freezing animal cells in bid to preserve native life
SINGAPORE, July 14 — Heard of seed banks? Singapore is now making a similar preservation facility but for animal cells. The Straits Times reported on Singapore's own Noah's Ark of sorts, that will house frozen cells and tissues of South-east Asian animals. Mandai Wildlife Group, manager of Singapore's five wildlife parks, uses special cooling technology to keep the frozen cells viable. After the cells are thawed, they will be able to replicate and grow. So far Mandai's conservation arm — Mandai Nature — has successfully banked the live cells of 10 bird species including the endangered lilac-crowned amazon, milky stork and Bali myna. This kind of effort is called biobanking, a means of preserving and storing biological material from living matter whether flora or fauna and most often utilizing cryopreservation where samples are kept in sub-zero temperatures, frozen. Mandai Nature CEO Sonja Luz has stated that the biobanks' main goal is conservation. She told ST: 'For now, our aim is to collect, freeze and store as many samples as possible to create a safety net for some of the most threatened species of our region. Our goal is conservation, and nothing but that.'
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This international platform enables local and overseas academic innovators and startups to exchange ideas, deepen their understanding of Hong Kong's vibrant I&T ecosystem, and integrate seamlessly into the city's innovation #HKSTP The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 to create a thriving I&T ecosystem grooming 13 unicorns, more than 15,000 research professionals and over 2,300 technology companies from 25 countries and regions focused on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies, etc. Our growing innovation ecosystem offers comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures, with the I&T journey built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined. Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen plays positive roles in connecting the world and the mainland with our proximity, strengthening cross-border exchange to bring advantages in attracting global talent and allowing possibilities for the development of technology companies in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability, with both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition facilities, and more. Through our R&D infrastructure, startup support and enterprise services, commercialisation and investment expertise, partnership networks and talent traction, HKSTP continues contribute in establishing I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong. More information about HKSTP is available at
