Developing assisted reproduction for reptiles, what’s next?

Abstract

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are often used as management tools to protect endangered vertebrate taxa; however, progress
in developing ART for reptiles has been at a tortoise’s pace! As proven useful for other species, the creation of functional and sustainable
ART in reptiles can strengthen our conservation abilities by allowing zoos and aquariums to capture genetic material from select
important individuals. This is a review of reptile research in ART dating back to the 1970’s, highlighting important areas that still need
investigation. Topics include artificial insemination, gamete collection, gamete storage, and genome resource banking. Additionally,
potential application of in-vitro/ex-ovo fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cloning (somatic cell nuclear transfer),
and genetic editing to reptiles, and the hurdles that need to be overcome, are included. For all reptile taxa, utilizing short-term gamete
storage and genome resource banking, in conjunction with timed artificial insemination or ex-ovo incubation, could lead to profound
advances in reptilian ART, with the hope of mitigating the loss of reptile biodiversity.