Equine Native Breed Conservation

Preserve & conserve rare breed equines via skin sample preservation

Critically Endangered Suffolk Punch Horse
Skin sample preservation could prove vital to breed survival

The UK is home to over 14 native horse and pony breeds. Of these, 12 are considered rare with 5 listed as critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

Part of our UK history and heritage, these breeds have also evolved from our UK landscape and are therefore uniquely adapted to regional environments. These traits could prove vital & highly beneficial in a world of changing climates, increased weather extremes and reduced environmental resources for domestic animals.

Origin of UK Native Horse Breeds
Their unique genetics could prove vital for the future

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Critically Endangered Suffolk Punch Horse
Skin sample preservation could prove vital to breed survival

The UK is home to over 14 native horse and pony breeds. Of these, 12 are considered rare with 5 listed as critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

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Origin of UK Native Horse Breeds
Their unique genetics could prove vital for the future

At Gemini Genetics, we are assisting with the preservation of UK rare and native breed equines, via promotion of skin sample genetic preservation. Benefits of skin sample preservation for conservation include;[/vc_column_text]

As its a non reproductive cell, all genders and age ranges can be genetically preserved, allowing the genetics of mares and geldings to be captured as equally as stallions.

Unlike gametes (sperm and eggs) which contain only 50% of the DNA of the donor animal, skin samples contain 100% of the genetic profile of the donor.

DNA within skin samples can be cultured to increase the genetic resource available for the donor animal. This is different to semen stocks, which reduce upon use. By contract, the cells within skin samples can be increased upon use, making skin an infinite resource for conservation.

Once a skin sample has been cryogenically preserved, several applications exist for its use in animal conservation. The most direct application of our service is the reawakening of preserved DNA for animal regeneration. A ‘living’ gene bank to bring back a population in the future. Or to regenerate and reintroduce individuals to assist in their conservation and prevent species/ breed loss. This type of animal regeneration using skin is known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, or cloning as more commonly known.

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Loss of rare breed genetics & survival threat
Through population challenge e.g. inbreeding or disease

The application of genetic replication for conservation is to allow for the re-introduction of lost genetics and genetic diversity, to assist with breed survival and fitness, without the need for outbreeding or cross breeding. In the event of a breed/ species genetic narrowing, preserved skin samples can be analysed and individuals least genetically related to the current living population can be selected for genetic replication, to bring back much needed genetic diversity to the living population.

A further future use of preserved skin samples is via induced pluripotent stem cell technology. Here, skin cells are reprogrammed to generate sperm and egg cells. This would allow the creation of new population individuals & new genetic sets from the preserved skin cell DNA. This technology is at present most developed in mice species but is subject to significant research and development and holds much promise for the future for animal conservation breeding.