Rhino Genome Mapped in Hopes of Species Rescue

In a Kenyan wildlife conservancy near the equator, armed guards protect two northern white rhinoceroses, Najin and Fatu.

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They are the last two northern white rhinos alive—both non-reproductive females—making the species functionally extinct.

For several years, Jeanne Loring, a stem cell biologist at Scripps Research Institute, along with other scientists, has explored ways to rescue these animals from eventual extinction. In 2011, Loring and her team created the first induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from the skin cells of northern white rhinos.

A Genomic Milestone

This ambitious goal took a major leap forward with the recent full sequencing of the northern white rhino genome, enabling scientists to compare lab-cultured stem cells to healthy genetic baselines. This step is crucial for selecting high-integrity stem cell lines for generating germ cells (sperm and egg), avoiding mutations that may have arisen during the reprogramming process.