Sequencing the Black Rhinoceros Genome

Backed by Pembient, DNAnexus, Greg Simmons, Catherine Simmons, Andrew Kenyon, Tom Lyon, Vladimir Voevodsky, Jay Jensen, Dr. Elizabeth Iorns, Denny Luan, and 171 other backers
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University of Washington
Brooklyn, New York
BiologyEcology
Open Access
DOI: 10.18258/5332
$17,292
Raised of $16,500 Goal
104%
Funded on 7/11/15
Successfully Funded
  • $17,292
    pledged
  • 104%
    funded
  • Funded
    on 7/11/15

Discussion

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  • Moloya Gohain
    Moloya Gohain
    Hi, I hope the project is going well! I had a few questions. The first is regarding the size of the rhino genome. Second, which reference assembly is being used? Third, how do we know what a sequencing/project would cost if we do not know the genome size ? Sequencing the genome of the one-horned rhino was my dream project. I lived near their hometrack and even the forest dept. at Kaziranga National Park (India), was ready to cooperate. But we did not have good WGS labs nearby. I presented the idea to my PIs and they showed no interest. I shared the idea for my postdoc project, and still I was told, there's no future. I always knew this is the future! Anyway, they still tease and joke about the idea. I showed them how a man from cardiology, driven by passion, gathered a team, raised funds and did exactly that! This is truly inspiring! Thank you!
    May 16, 2018
  • Martin Abrahams
    Martin Abrahams
    Hi there, hopefully someone can help me with a question that I have. What are the chances of genetically manipulating the horn of a rhinoceros in order that it does not grow? I see in some tests in the USA scientists have managed to create cows that have no horns which was done in order to stop the cruel treatment of burning the horns off.
    Aug 02, 2017
  • Pembient
    PembientResearcher
    Yes, it is true that gene-editing techniques (e.g., TALENs, CRISPR) can be used to create hornless cows [1]. Such techniques could be applied to rhinos; however, it is not clear that hornless rhinos are well-suited to the wild. The horn of a rhino is like a giant fingernail and can be painlessly trimmed. In some places, rhinos are temporarily dehorned to discourage poaching. Unfortunately, there is anecdotal evidence that these rhinos are less able to defend themselves [2]. As an aside, it is interesting to note that poaching pressure may be selecting for tuskless elephants in some parts of Africa [3]. So, it seems nature is still best at finding "manipulations" that work. [1] https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/the-fda-wants-to-regulate-gene-edited-animals-as-drugs/513686/ [2] https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/the-complimentary-breakfast-with-rian-van-heerden/hippo-lands-brutal-attack-thirsty-rhino/ [3] http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/selection-tuskless-elephants
    Aug 02, 2017
  • Martin Abrahams
    Martin Abrahams
    Thank you very much for the info Pembient. I have been involved in funding rhino rehabilitation and awareness campaigns for the last few years but the battle is being lost against criminal gangs that are becoming better funded and daring as time goes by. So I am looking at the possibility of a long-term solution instead of a plaster. Something that would allow the animals, over time, to thrive and choke the poachers out of a living. There are other issues concerning poaching eg. The skin of elephants are used in Myanmar as medicine, for example but Africa (where most of the elephants and rhinos are concentrated) is losing their elephants and rhinos at an alarming rate. I would just like to point out from your links that the rhino population is being decimated by poachers, as you know.....this year alone we have over 750 animals in that have been killed-that is known of, these numbers could be higher. I think in contrast to a hippo killing one rhino (with all due respect to your link) that makes the skirmish between the two a little insignificant- sorry to say. The elephants that are not growing tusks is probably a good thing-there are a few in Etosha for instance that are now not developing full grown tusks, I believe from some journals that I have read, that evolution works faster than what was previously imagined, sometimes years instead of a few millennium, however, I am concerned that evolution and poaching will not work to cancel out the damage done before it becomes too late. Anyway thanks for your help again and I wish you luck with sequencing the genes of the rhino.
    Aug 31, 2017
  • Casey Fussner
    Casey Fussner
    Hello! Excited to hear about this. I've had the opportunity to see both black and white rhinos in the wild. Love what you guys are doing! Next is shark's fin? Maybe just a 3D printed flavor replicated shark fin?
    Jul 12, 2016
  • Pembient
    PembientResearcher
    Casey, Thanks for posting! It is true that Pembient is working on the biofabrication of wildlife products; however, the Black Rhino Genome Project is purely a basic research project that we're supporting along with many others. As far as shark fin is concerned, there is a company called New Wave Foods that has made some noise about making an alternative [1]. Right now, though, they seem to be focused on creating a sustainable shrimp substitute. [1] http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2015/11/09/will-bioengineered-shark-fin-help-save-sharks/
    Jul 18, 2016
  • Maria Chavez
    Maria ChavezBacker
    Is there an update on this project?
    Mar 29, 2016
  • Pembient
    PembientResearcher
    Hi! I've just replied to a similar query from Martin Crawford in Update #4 (https://experiment.com/u/9uRLtA#comment_15677). TLDR: Ntombi's sample is tied up in some red tape at present. More soon!
    Mar 29, 2016
  • Gayle Pedersen
    Gayle Pedersen
    WOW you guys did fantastically well to raise this amount for such valid research! Any tips for me as I sit at 3 days remaining and 41% raised? Also rhino DNA but I am looking at enhancing management protocols utilising genetic information when relocating rhinos. So a much smaller scale than your research, but with the potential to design a rule of thumb for rhino managers who want to know which rhinos to move and ideal founder numbers for a genetically viable population etc. I just need the funds to get through the final year of my PhD so I can get these results out while they can still benefit the rhinos. And I have offered acknowledgement on conference presentations and publications coming out of this research for all donations $500+. So if you guys are okay for funds at the moment...please spread the word about my plight as soon as poss ;). Thanks, Gayle aka RhinoGirl aka Mkateko
    Jan 21, 2016
  • Catherine Simmons
    Catherine SimmonsBacker
    Congrats!! So happy this project is funded!
    Jul 12, 2015
  • Cara Fiore
    Cara FioreBacker
    Congratulations, looking forward to hearing more about this!
    Jul 10, 2015
  • Nigel Woolf
    Nigel WoolfBacker
    Congratulations! Keep us posted on the results. Intra- and inter-species comparisons will be interesting.
    Jul 10, 2015
  • Maria Chavez
    Maria ChavezBacker
    So very excited about this, congrats on getting funded!!
    Jul 10, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Thank you!!!!
    Jul 10, 2015
  • Maria Chavez
    Maria ChavezBacker
    So very excited about this, congrats on getting funded!!
    Jul 10, 2015
  • Monil Kothari
    Monil KothariBacker
    Just donated! You guys are almost there!
    Jul 10, 2015
  • Monil Kothari
    Monil KothariBacker
    Just donated! You guys are almost there!
    Jul 10, 2015
  • KT8
    KT8
    How do you propose to assemble the genome of the Black Rhino? It is generally easy and cheap enough to sequence an uncharacterized genome but depending on the species, the assembly and annotation process can be rather difficult. Why not work with these guys (https://genome10k.soe.ucsc.edu/)? I think they would be interested.
    Jun 30, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    We're aligning to the southern white rhino genome. This is a quick way of putting some structure around the sequence. We may do another crowdfunding effort to further annotate this assembly; however, we also hope that some of this work will be done by others once the initial assembly is in the public domain.
    Jul 02, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    We're aligning to the southern white rhino genome. This is a quick way of putting some structure around the sequence. We may do another crowdfunding effort to further annotate this assembly; however, we also hope that some of this work will be done by others once the initial assembly is in the public domain.
    Jul 02, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Sorry glitch posted twice! But does that answer your question?
    Jul 02, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Sorry glitch posted twice! But does that answer your question?
    Jul 02, 2015
  • KT8
    KT8
    How do you propose to assemble the genome of the Black Rhino? It is generally easy and cheap enough to sequence an uncharacterized genome but depending on the species, this can be rather difficult.
    Jun 30, 2015
  • Amy L. Boore
    Amy L. BooreBacker
    Thank you for your work!
    Jun 29, 2015
  • Jamie Marrs
    Jamie MarrsBacker
    Thank you for the working you are doing. I'm glad to do my part to get this funded.
    Jun 28, 2015
  • Nicolas Chinot
    Nicolas ChinotBacker
    Let's make an impact together!
    Jun 27, 2015
  • Scott Anderson
    Scott AndersonBacker
    May this be the start of many more great projects to come. Scott A.
    Jun 26, 2015
  • Raúl Cabrera Porcel
    Raúl Cabrera PorcelBacker
    Good luck with the project!!! From a primate keeper.
    Jun 26, 2015
  • Maria Chavez
    Maria ChavezBacker
    Very excited that you are taking this on and I hope this is just the first step to try and halt the extinction of not just Rhino's but all the threatened species. Best of luck!
    Jun 25, 2015
  • Will Bales
    Will BalesBacker
    Fantastic idea. The only way to stop this is to effect the demand. Good luck. Will
    Jun 25, 2015
  • Sean McMahon
    Sean McMahonBacker
    Great work guys. The world needs more projects like this. Sean (Future27)
    Jun 25, 2015
  • Mark Regale
    Mark RegaleBacker
    Save them Rhinos!
    Jun 24, 2015
  • Carl Shotwell
    Carl ShotwellBacker
    Rhinos!
    Jun 24, 2015
  • Tabi
    TabiBacker
    I think what you’re doing is a brilliant idea – it’s the only thing I’ve seen that comes close to potentially resolving the problem. I was wondering if you might at some point be able to progress to helping the pangolin as well – I realise that their meat is also consumed and they’re often caught alive, but their scales are made of keratin just as a rhino’s horn is, and they’re horribly endangered as a species as well. Do you know if it might be possible to eventually flood the market with pangolin scales in the same way? Might be another channel for your project? I’m really excited by the idea of genetic research as a way of protecting animal species, and I really wish you the best in your progress. :)
    Jun 24, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Hey, Tabi! We are interested in pangolin scales because they are keratin-based. However, we don't really do soft tissues right now. So right now, we're not sure if producing the scales alone is going to have an impact. It is definitely something we're going to examine next, though. Cheers!
    Jun 24, 2015
  • Raghu Machiraju
    Raghu MachirajuBacker
    Matt and George - All the best, dudes ! You are just cool and doing great things. Stay in touch !
    Jun 23, 2015
  • Rakesh Agrawal
    Rakesh AgrawalBacker
    First time sponsoring research through Experiment, looking forward to following your project!
    Jun 23, 2015
  • Ryan Bethencourt
    Ryan BethencourtBacker
    Pembient can help save the Rhino and then all of the other endangered animals! I'm rooting for them!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Pembient's gonna poach the poachers' business!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Bob Crimmins
    Bob CrimminsBacker
    Good luck!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Thank you!
    Jun 24, 2015
  • Cecily Keating
    Cecily KeatingBacker
    Thank you!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    No, thank you!!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Varun Sethi
    Varun SethiBacker
    this is a really cool project! wish you all the best :)
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Thank you!!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Jude Gomila
    Jude GomilaBacker
    Good luck, I got the joy of seeing a rare rhino meeting between 5 rhinos out in the wild. Would hate to see these beasts go...
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Wow that sounds like an amazing experience! We hope to do what we can to help keep them around
    Jun 22, 2015
  • April
    AprilBacker
    Thank you so much for what you are doing!! I hope someday soon someone can make genetic replicas of elephant tusks as well. Because fuck those poachers! Go science!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Absolutely, go science! Hopefully we put poachers out of a job
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Andrew Phillips
    Andrew PhillipsBacker
    Pledged due to your reddit AMA!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    We're so glad we did that then!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Leslie Nitikman Sokolow
    Leslie Nitikman SokolowBacker
    Glad to help in this conservation project.
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    We couldn't do it without you!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Alex Marzec
    Alex MarzecBacker
    I wish you all the best with your research! I really hope this can make a difference in protecting the black rhino. Good luck!!!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Thank YOU!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Nigel Woolf
    Nigel WoolfBacker
    Clever idea! Hope it works!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    We believe it will!
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Martin Crawford
    Martin CrawfordBacker
    Love what you guys are doing! I really hope people donate to this to get this important research done! I will be sharing this on Facebook and throwing it up in an ad on Facebook for my page Just because it is something I believe we can totally accomplish and we really need to do it.
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Wow, thank you Martin! We're continually amazed by the generosity of people like you. It's truly a team effort.
    Jun 22, 2015
  • Dominic and Ana Lariz
    Dominic and Ana LarizBacker
    A little boy named Dominic, he is 6 years old, has opened my eyes to the rhino. It is his favorite . I hope you can make a difference so he grows up to a world that has black rhinos!
    Jun 21, 2015
  • Alex Neckelmann
    Alex NeckelmannBacker
    For science!
    Jun 21, 2015
  • Pam Olsen Vaillancourt
    Pam Olsen VaillancourtBacker
    Brilliant. So looking forward to seeing updates about this.
    Jun 21, 2015
  • Simon Bockaert
    Simon BockaertBacker
    Good luck!
    Jun 21, 2015
  • Yi-Jirr Chen
    Yi-Jirr ChenBacker
    加油!
    Jun 20, 2015
  • Gretchen Baneyx
    Gretchen BaneyxBacker
    I've admired your work for quite some time. Good luck on this one!
    Jun 18, 2015
  • Andrés Ochoa (aka Don)
    Andrés Ochoa (aka Don)Backer
    I LOVE THE PROJECT... GO FOR IT
    Jun 18, 2015
  • Jennifer Kaehms
    Jennifer KaehmsBacker
    Good luck!
    Jun 15, 2015
  • Ilkka Taponen
    Ilkka TaponenBacker
    Good luck the project!
    Jun 15, 2015
  • Patricia Kelly
    Patricia KellyBacker
    Keep up the great work!
    Jun 12, 2015
  • Karla Stanley
    Karla StanleyBacker
    It is a great thing to do. Thank you for your work. Is there any cloning happening with the rhino?
    Jun 12, 2015
  • David Kittay
    David KittayBacker
    Fantastic Project! Let's save these beautiful animals!
    Jun 12, 2015
  • Darlene Moak
    Darlene MoakBacker
    I hope this project can get funded. It is SO important! Thanks to you for what you are doing!!
    Jun 12, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Thanks Darlene! We do too!
    Jun 12, 2015
  • peter zassenhaus
    peter zassenhausBacker
    Will the sequencing include the mitochondrial genome and have the power to detect somatic polymorphisms in that genome?
    Jun 12, 2015
  • Jason P Schein
    Jason P ScheinBacker
    Good luck!
    Jun 11, 2015
  • Chuck Murry
    Chuck Murry Researcher
    Thanks!!
    Jun 12, 2015
  • Cindy Wu
    Cindy WuBacker
    There is no rhino emoji, so I hope you will accept this instead :^D.
    Jun 11, 2015