Barcelona CRYOZOO: Leveraging Genomics to Uncover Transcription Factors and Advance iPSC Generation for Endangered Species

Building on a powerful collaboration between the Barcelona Zoo Foundation, Pompeu Fabra University, the Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the Barcelona Cryozoo uses state-of-the-art techniques to characterize and store material from a vast number of species. Currently, the Barcelona Cryozoo is working with 16 zoological centers and aquariums and has conserved material from more than 250 species including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

Their workflow includes generating large volumes of high-resolution data for banked cell lines and converting these lines into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Now, leveraging whole-genome, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data from over 100 species, they are poised to lead a groundbreaking exploration of comparative pluripotency.

This AI-driven project will characterize pluripotency across evolutionarily divergent lineages, predict species-specific reprogramming protocols, and help overcome barriers to iPSC derivation. As a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, it represents a pioneering step in comparative biology and will provide crucial resources for biobanking as a cornerstone of biodiversity preservation.