Advanced Biotechnology Center (ABC)at the University of Yamanashi
At the Advanced Biotechnology Center (ABC), we use mice to conduct a wide variety of researchin the field of reproductive biotechnology. Three of our main focus areas are the improvement ofsomatic cell nuclear transfer “cloning” technologies, the development of new gamete (egg andsperm) preservation methods, and research on reproduction in space station, which will likely playa pivotal role in the distant future.
Cloning technologies have the potential to change the way we live, not only in terms ofadvancing agricultural innovation and accelerating progress in regenerative medicine, but also
in contributing to our understanding of long-extinct species if it was resurrected by cloning.
First cloned miceAt that time, mouse was oneof most difficult species toproduce cloned animal.
However, as we reported in
Nature in 1998, it became
possible by improving thenuclear transfer techniques.

Nuclear injection method

One landmark achievement reported in 2008 was thecreation of healthy cloned mice “resurrected” from deadmice that had been frozen for 16 years. This achievement
led to widespread speculation that resurrecting the woolly
mammoth and creating a real-life Jurassic Park might nolonger be very far off. Although current technology does
not yet apply, it might in future be possible.

Unlimited cloning
Previously, serial cloning
was impossible. However,
we succeeded to repeatmouse cloning over 25times, and the success rate
was increased.

The ABC develops new methods for obtaining
offspring from infertile mice by combining with
nuclear transfer and some other artificial breeding
techniques.

Cloned mice from frozen deadcadaver preserved for 16 years

Exploring the possibility of “unlimited” cloning(the idea of producing successive generations ofclones from a single-source donor) could be
useful for the large-scale production of superiorquality domestic animals. We are now reachedthe 34th generation of mouse re-clones with noevidence of genetic damage
Offspring from infertile
mouse
The mouse had no germ cell
due to the mutation. However,using cloning techniques, wegot offspring from the mouse.

Development the new gamete preservation method at room temperature: If it will be possible,
the method is revolutionary, as there's no need to use liquid nitrogen, so the cost can be reduced
and it's more safe.
We work on freeze-dried sperm,
Mice were generated frompublished in Nature Biotechnology
freeze-dried sperm
in 1998, showed for the first time
Nobody thought it would bethat it was possible to generate micepossible to generate micefrom freeze-dried sperm preserved
from freeze-dried sperm.
at room temperature. But so far, we
Therefore, nobody tried tocan preserve at room temperature
do this before. We tried,
only for a few months.”
and succeeded.

Study for Mammalian Space Reproduction. Through our “Space Pup” experiment conducted incollaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), we are investigating theeffects of space radiation and zero gravity on mouse germ cells. The first mice generated fromspace-preserved were born in 2014.
We study for research on space
reproductive biology using
International Space Station,
striving to lay a solid
foundation for a future where
humans and animals will needto reproduce in space.

First space pup

Other sperm are still keeping in ISS to expose space radiation up
to 5 years. We are also planning to launch mouse embryo to ISSand culture it under zero gravity (“Space embryo” project).

Technique is very important. This may be one
advantage of working at a relatively smalluniversity; we can hone our techniques andconcentrate on these niche fields
Supporting these research initiatives is one of the ABC’s most distinctive assets: its seventeen sets offully equipped and highly specialized micromanipulator, an array that ranks among the largest in theworld. Taking advantage of these technologies and facilities, researchers at the ABC engage innumerous joint research projects include overseas organizations and aid in the effort to create
genetically modified mice that other facilities have never been able to produce. The fostering ofresearchers in future generations through these researches is also important aim of our ABC.