Our Why

Collections of preserved (often frozen) germplasm, tissue, and DNA samples have been referred to by a variety of terms, including germplasm repositories, frozen zoos, biobanks, and biorepositories. For simplicity, we selected the term “biorepository” to represent our goal of providing information and resources for biorepository development to the broader coral restoration community. Biorepository development is crucial for the advancement of coral research and restoration efforts, as well as to ensure the long-term security of coral genetic resources. These efforts for corals are increasing globally as threats to coral reefs continue unabated.

Safeguarding genetic resources generally take the form of cryopreserving germplasm (i.e., sperm, oocytes, or larvae), enabling the long-term storage of samples that can be used to generate new individuals to support population resilience and recovery. Key to the success of biobanking is the management of samples and associated metadata in secure biorepository systems designed to integrate with conservation and restoration activities. If managed properly, these samples hold tremendous value for securing biodiversity, understanding threatened populations, and supporting efforts to enhance and restore reefs globally, both now and in the future.