Maintenance of Brazilian Biodiversity by germplasm bank 1

Machado L.C., Oliveira V.C., Paraventi M.D., Cardoso R.N.R., Martins D.S. & Ambrósio C.E. 2016. Maintenance of Brazilian Biodiversity by germplasm bank. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36(1):62-66. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte 225, Pirassununga, SP13635-900, Brazil. E-mail: lucianabiologa@usp.br Currently the importance of using alternative strategies for biodiversity conservation is emphasized and since the establishment of germplasm bank is an alternative to the conservation of endangered species. This is a technique of great importance for the maintenance of Brazilian fauna. Since the early70’sthere was a growing concern about the need to preserve essential genetic resources for food and agriculture, mainly for conservation of genetic material from farm animals. Thus was created the Brasilia Zoo, in July 2010, the first Germplasm Bank of Wild Animals in Latin America, as an alternative strategy for the conservation of threatened or endangered species, using both gametes and somatic cells and stem cells. Then we argue to create new banks or research networks among different regions with aimed to tissue preservation.