Scientific advances in genetic and reproductive technologies are providing new tools for sustaining populations of endangered species. Some are already benefiting from assisted reproductive technology such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Cryopreservation of sperm, oocytes, and embryos, as well as cell cultures, can restore genetic diversity in populations that would otherwise be lost. The development of stem cell technologies holds promise for reducing the risk of extinction for small vulnerable populations. The ability to induce cells from adult animals to become stem cells, which have the potential to produce all of the tissues within the body, has now been demonstrated for two critically endangered species: the northern white rhinoceros and the drill monkey.
