Public Domain Picture: 20131106-OSEC-LSC-0746

(L to R) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Colorado State University (CSU) President Dr. Anthony Frank, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research Service (ARS) National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) Research Leader Geneticist Dr. David Dierig listen to National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) Program Leader Animal Geneticist Dr. Harvey Blackburn (foreground) speak about the Cryogenic Storage Facility, in Ft. Collins, CO on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. The Cryogenic Storage Vault operates more than 45 cryogenic tanks that hold animal germplasm, plant tissue culture, and seeds that are stored at -196 °C (-321 °F) in liquid storage or to -193 °C (-315 °F) in vapor storage. NCGRP houses the NAGP, which preserves more than 750,000 units (eggs, semen, embryos) of animal germplasm for more than 150 animal and aquacultural breeds and species. Samples of dairy cattle, beef cattle, and swine comprise more than 80% of the total collection of animal germplasm. NCGRP is the largest agricultural gene bank facility in the U.S. The NCGRP staff conducts groundbreaking research to develop more efficient and effective means for preserving plant and animal germplasm, and for better understanding the genetic structure of these invaluable materials. The research findings, preservation techniques, and specialized technology developed by the NCGRP have been adopted by gene banks around the world: many international scientists travel to the NCGRP for research and training. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

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April 27, 2014