Illumina Partners with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to Enhance Conservation Efforts

Illumina, Inc. has entered into a significant partnership with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) to sequence up to 4,000 unique animal samples from the Frozen Zoo®, a biobank that preserves living cells from over 1,300 species. This collaboration aims to utilize advanced genomic technologies to address pressing conservation challenges and enhance biodiversity preservation efforts globally.

Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally

Founded in 1975 by Dr. Kurt Benirschke, the Frozen Zoo® is the world's largest and most diverse collection of biological samples from endangered species. It currently houses over 11,500 samples from 4,000 individual animals. The biobank serves as a vital repository for genetic material, enabling researchers to unlock insights into species conservation and ecological resilience. Megan Owen, SDZWA's Benirschke Endowed Vice President of Conservation Science, emphasized that this partnership marks a new era of genomic discovery, crucial for reversing biodiversity loss.

Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally

The sequencing initiative will generate whole-genome data that will be made available for collaborative research projects. Illumina's multiomic solutions are expected to provide critical information regarding genetic diversity and population history, which can inform conservation strategies. Rolf Benirschke, board chair of the SDZWA Board of Trustees, reflected on his father's vision for the Frozen Zoo, stating that the collaboration with Illumina would significantly advance conservation science.

Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally

Illumina's involvement extends beyond the Frozen Zoo®. Through its iConserve program, the company has previously engaged in projects such as lemur conservation in Madagascar and genetic mapping of elephants in Africa. A recent project highlighted in *Nature Communications* demonstrated how sequencing koala genomes can inform management decisions for both wild and zoo populations. This work has led to the development of genetic risk scores and a longevity breeding index, tools aimed at reducing cancer risk in koalas.

Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally

Cande Rogert, vice president and global head of Advanced Sciences at Illumina, stated, "This collaboration is a wonderful example of the way multiomic technologies can activate the potential of these critical biodiversity biobanks." The partnership is seen as a pivotal step in leveraging genomic data to enhance conservation efforts worldwide.

Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally

While the collaboration has been largely welcomed, some conservationists express concerns about the reliance on genomic technologies over traditional conservation methods. They argue that while genomic insights are valuable, they should complement rather than replace habitat preservation and species management strategies.

Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally

The partnership between Illumina and SDZWA is expected to lead to further advancements in conservation genomics, with ongoing projects aimed at validating multiomic workflows for non-human samples. As the collaboration progresses, it will likely contribute to a deeper understanding of genetic factors affecting endangered species and bolster global conservation initiatives.

Illumina and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partner to sequence the Frozen Zoo®, supporting critical conservation genetics efforts globally