How will scientists create new northern white rhino embryos?

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Scientists are creating new northern white rhino embryos using a combination of assisted reproductive techniques and stem cell technology.

Scientists have successfully grown embryos containing the DNA of the northern white rhino (NWR) subspecies, a significant step towards potentially saving the species from extinction. This breakthrough involves fertilising eggs from southern white rhinos (SWR) with frozen sperm from deceased NWR males. The embryos created through this in-vitro process have a high probability of establishing a pregnancy when implanted into a surrogate mother.
Hybrid Embryos Created Using NWR Sperm and SWR Eggs

The initial phase of the research focused on creating hybrid embryos by combining genetic material from different but closely related rhino subspecies. Specifically, eggs were harvested from SWR females, which are numerous, and fertilised with frozen sperm collected from deceased NWR males. This process yielded test-tube-produced rhino embryos that are now frozen and are considered to have a very high chance of successful implantation and pregnancy in a surrogate. A recently patented, two-metre egg extraction device was instrumental in this procedure, enabling the collection of eggs from the SWR females housed in European zoos.
Future Collection from Last Remaining NWR Females

The research team's ultimate goal is to apply this technique to collect eggs directly from the last two living northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, who reside in Kenya. These eggs would then be fertilised with NWR sperm. The subsequent step involves implanting these genetically NWR embryos into surrogate SWR females, with the aim of establishing a new, albeit initially small, NWR breeding population. Researchers are seeking permission to harvest eggs from Najin and Fatu, ideally before the end of the current year, though the procedure carries inherent risks due to the animals' critical status.
Stem Cell Technology to Enhance Genetic Diversity

Beyond direct embryo creation, scientists also plan to leverage stem cell technology to address the critical issue of limited genetic diversity. This approach involves using frozen skin cells from 12 deceased NWR individuals, who are unrelated to one another. The objective is to engineer eggs and sperm from these cells in vitro. This method is intended to substantially broaden the genetic foundation for any future NWR population, mitigating the bottleneck effect caused by the extremely low number of remaining individuals and available semen samples.

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How will scientists create new northern white rhino embryos?

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