Saving Giant Pandas with the Power of Stem Cells

By Dr. Chinta SidharthanReviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the most recognized and cherished mammalian species, featuring widely even in folklore and children’s literature. However, the species is critically endangered and on the verge of extinction, with its survival being threatened by habitat fragmentation and loss, as well as a lack of genetic diversity.¹

Image Credit: Foreverhappy/Shutterstock.com

Introduction

Despite significant conservation efforts, including habitat protection and breeding programs, the species continues to face challenges in maintaining a viable and genetically diverse population.²

In recent years, biotechnology has emerged as a potential game-changer in wildlife conservation and veterinary science, with stem cell research, especially the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), standing out as a particularly promising avenue.³

This article explores the potential of stem cell technology in the conservation of giant pandas through the enhancement of genetic diversity, treatment of diseases, and tissue regeneration in the species.

Understanding Stem Cell Technology

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cell types. They can be broadly categorized into embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

ESCs, derived from embryos, have unlimited potential for differentiation. However, the ethical concerns associated with ESCs pose major obstacles in obtaining these stem cells, especially from endangered species.⁴

iPSCs, on the other hand, are generated by reprogramming adult somatic cells into a pluripotent state, thereby circumventing ethical issues while retaining the ability to differentiate into various cell types.⁵

Recent research has demonstrated the successful generation of and gene expression from iPSCs obtained from endangered species, including the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), the drill monkey (Mandrillus leucophaeus), Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), and Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi).^6-9 By harnessing these regenerative capabilities of stem cells, scientists also hope to address several key challenges in the conservation of giant pandas.

Understanding Animal Diversity with Zoological Proteomics

How Stem Cells Could Help Panda Conservation

Genetic Diversity Enhancement

One of the major challenges facing the giant panda population is the loss of genetic variation due to small breeding populations.¹ The development of iPSC technology offers a potential solution by allowing scientists to generate gametes — sperm and egg cells — from somatic cells of genetically underrepresented individuals in the panda population.

This approach could expand the gene pool available for captive breeding and artificial reproduction programs.¹¹ Additionally, the cryopreservation of iPSCs, such as umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells or UC-MSCs from genetically diverse individuals, could provide a long-term resource for restoring genetic diversity in future breeding efforts.¹⁰

Studies in other species have shown that reprogrammed iPSCs can differentiate into germ cells, making them a valuable tool for conservation genetics.

In pandas, this approach could aid breeding programs by ensuring that even individuals who are unable to reproduce naturally due to ecological challenges can still contribute to the genetic pool.

Furthermore, genetic rescue through iPSCs could reduce inbreeding-related health risks in both captive and wild populations.

Advances in gene-editing technologies, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems, could also be integrated with iPSC research to correct deleterious mutations before using these gametes for breeding purposes.^12,13

Disease Treatment

Giant pandas are susceptible to various diseases, including infections, digestive disorders, and degenerative conditions that can impact their survival. Stem cell therapy, particularly mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), has shown promise in regenerative medicine for treating injuries and immune-related disorders.

A recent study successfully isolated mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord of a giant panda and demonstrated their potential for therapeutic applications.¹³ The use of MSCs to develop treatments for common ailments affecting pandas could potentially improve survival rates and overall health.⁶

Furthermore, iPSCs could be applied in the study of disease mechanisms and drug testing. By differentiating iPSCs into specific cell types, researchers can create models for studying panda-specific diseases and testing potential treatments in vitro.

This approach reduces the need for invasive research on live pandas while enabling the development of targeted therapies for common health issues in the species.¹⁴

Tissue Engineering

Another potential application of stem cell technology is tissue regeneration for injured or aging pandas. iPSCs can differentiate into multiple tissue types, including bone, cartilage, and skin, making them valuable for treating injuries that could otherwise be life-threatening in the wild.¹⁵

For example, tissue engineering techniques could be used to generate grafts for pandas suffering from fractures or degenerative conditions, improving their quality of life and increasing their chances of survival in natural habitats.

Additionally, researchers are exploring bioengineered tissues for wildlife conservation, which could be used to repair damaged organs or develop organoid models for studying panda biology.

The use of iPSCs in tissue engineering may also help address reproductive challenges by creating artificial reproductive tissues that could assist in embryo implantation and pregnancy success.¹⁶

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Current Research and Challenges

While the potential applications of stem cell technology in panda conservation are promising, several challenges remain.

The reprogramming and differentiation of iPSCs require precise conditions and species-specific optimization, as demonstrated in recent efforts to generate panda iPSCs, which could pose several technical difficulties.¹¹

Furthermore, although iPSCs circumvent some of the ethical concerns associated with ESCs, the use of biotechnology in conservation raises serious questions about human intervention in natural processes.¹⁴

Additionally, conservation programs utilizing such biotechnological tools often require substantial funding and regulatory approvals. However, unlike human medical research, funding for wildlife applications and conservation remains limited, slowing the progress of such endeavors.^17,18

Moreover, conservationists must balance technological interventions with habitat protection and ecological sustainability.

While stem cell applications can aid population recovery, they cannot replace traditional conservation efforts such as habitat restoration and anti-poaching measures.

Nevertheless, institutions such as the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research are actively exploring biotechnological approaches, including stem cell research, to support conservation efforts.^2,10,11

Future Prospects and Conclusions

The integration of stem cell technology into conservation strategies for giant pandas represents a promising frontier.

With growing biotechnology research, the techniques for generating and differentiating iPSCs from pandas and other endangered animals are likely to improve, making applications such as gamete production and tissue engineering more feasible.

However, the current progress indicates that interdisciplinary collaborations between conservation biologists, geneticists, and biotechnologists will be essential for refining these approaches and overcoming existing challenges.

Increased investment in research and funding, along with ethical considerations, will be crucial in unlocking the full potential of this innovative approach.

Moreover, raising awareness about the scientific advancements in panda conservation can also garner public support, fostering a broader commitment to protecting such endangered species.

References

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2. Wei, F., Swaisgood, R., Hu, Y., Nie, Y., Yan, L., Zhang, Z., Qi, D., & Zhu, L. (2015). Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas. Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 29(6), 1497–1507. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12582
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4. National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Biological and Biomedical Applications of Stem Cell Research. Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. CHAPTER THREE, Embryonic Stem Cells. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223690/
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7. Weeratunga, P., Shahsavari, A., Ovchinnikov, D. A., Wolvetang, E. J., & Whitworth, D. J. (2018). Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from a Marsupial, the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii): Insight into the Evolution of Mammalian Pluripotency. Stem cells and development, 27(2), 112–122. https://doi.org/10.1089/scd.2017.0224
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10. Liu, Y., Zhang, S., Zou, G., An, J., Li, Y., Lin, D., Wang, D., Li, Y., Chen, J., Feng, T., Li, H., Chen, Y., Zhang, M., Kumar, M., Wang, L., Hou, R., & Liu, J. (2024). Generation and characterization of giant panda induced pluripotent stem cells. Science advances, 10(38), eadn7724. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn7724
11. Kerlin, K. E. (2020, May 21). CRISPR a Tool for Conservation, Not Just Gene Editing. UC Davis. Available at: https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/as-crispr-a-tool-for-conservation-not-just-gene-editing (Accessed on February 28, 2025)
12. Stamm, C. (2024, October 30). Cellular reprogramming: A game-changer for endangered species. CALS. Available at: https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2024/10/cellular-reprogramming-game-changer-endangered-species (Accessed on February 28, 2025)
13. Liu, Y., Li, F., Cai, Z., Wang, D., Hou, R., Zhang, H., Zhang, M., Yie, S., Wu, K., Zeng, C., & An, J. (2021). Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord of giant panda. Tissue & cell, 71, 101518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tice.2021.101518
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15. Markoski M. M. (2016). Advances in the Use of Stem Cells in Veterinary Medicine: From Basic Research to Clinical Practice. Scientifica, 2016, 4516920. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4516920
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