Mission Statement
“Preservation of endangered species through the cryobanking of cultured and prospectively validated cells.”
Amphicell preserves validated cells from endangered Australian frog species in a frozen biobank.
Tissue samples are collected from animals either euthanised from sickness or injury or from which a small toe clipping has been collected by researchers. Researchers sometimes collect small toe clippings to track critical animals of a representative species in the wild.
Cells from these tissue samples are cultured and methods are developed that enable the cells to multiply. From one small sample, therefore, millions of cells can be collected. These cells are cryopreserved in numerous aliquots in the frozen biobank. A small representative aliquot is thawed after several months of cryopreservation for validation. Validation includes post-thaw culture expansion to further increase cell numbers and check cell behaviour. DNA analysis is also performed to determine whether the cells have retained their overall normal chromosomal configuration.
Cells from the frozen biobank are for the provision to researchers for experiments involving microsatellite mapping, genomic sequencing and reproductive technologies, in an effort to assist frogs from becoming extinct.
Please Contact if you would like further information.
Support
Amphicell thanks
- FNQ Cpap and Medical Gas for the past kind provision of liquid nitrogen*,
- The Melbourne Veterinary School at the University of Melbourne for use of facilities (thank you to A/Prof Vern Bowles, A/Prof Charlie Pagel and Prof Jean-Pierre Scheerlinck) and an Honorary Position with the University to support this work.
- Myke Mollard for website setup and support.
*Liquid nitrogen is required to achieve the cold temperatures that permit cryopreservation of these cells. Cells in liquid nitrogen are theoretically preserved “as new” for 100 000 years and will therefore be a very good resource to help prevent further extinctions in the immediate and foreseeable future.