DNA banks for endangered animal species.

Although the loss of biodiversity resulting from extinctions is receiving increasing attention, the accompanying decrease in access to genetic resources has not been widely discussed. The threat of extinction for many species, both known and as yet undiscovered, grows ever greater as whole ecosystems vanish, human populations proliferate, and human-mediated interference increases. Even though efforts to compile listings of threatened plants and animals are developing (1), current views of timing of recovery from anthropogenic extinctions suggest that many millions of years will be required for replenishment to present-day levels (2).