Researchers at the University of Oxford have partnered with Chester Zoo to establish methods for deriving viable primary cell cultures from scat samples. If successful, this will enable us to collect cell samples from a diverse range of species in a much less invasive manner. More importantly, the delivery of a toolkit for generating cell cultures non-invasively from scat will be a game-changer for biobanking efforts, facilitating the storage of genetic material in living cultures as an essential action for conserving biodiversity.
PI: Professor Suzannah Williams
Team: Dr. Rhiannon Bolton and Janet Kwan
