C-29: The Pan-Smithsonian cryo-initiative-freezing for the future

Abstract

Among the largest non-human biobanking efforts, the Smithsonian Institution curates and manages frozen biomaterials, including samples of DNA, somatic cells, tissues, blood products, germplasm (sperm and eggs), embryos, as well as other animal, plant, and soil products. Today, this biological collection comprises at least 1 million samples from more than 18,000 species. In addition to being large, it also is a fast growing scientific collection. The value of the systematic and organized biorepository extends far beyond ensuring evidence of the world’s unique animal and plant species is protected. Interestingly, many samples in the Smithsonian frozen collection are unique treasures such as ancient DNA or frozen sperm cells from rare and endangered species. Biobanking efforts are fully integrated to conservation efforts (preservation and restoration of black-footed ferret populations for instance) and support a vast array of projects and disciplines. Given the importance of the Smithsonian frozen collections and growing need to preserve them using the best methods available, a multi-step initiative – the Pan-Smithsonian Cryo-Initiative – was created with the goal to preserve, inventory, and enable easy access to the cryo-specimens. As observed in other institutions worldwide, immediate actions are necessary to bring cataloging, management, equipment, and staffing requirements to an appropriate level across the different units. The highest priorities includes standardizing database, barcoding of each individual sample, organizing freezers and liquid nitrogen tanks to optimize their storage capacity, and recording location metadata in a database (location in laboratory freezers, sample type, date and locality of collection, collector, voucher information, link to relevant documentation, DNA sequences, Geographical Information System references). This includes a basic understanding of how laboratories and departments are managing their frozen collections, the current status of each unit, and improvements for archival use and long-term storage.