SEL’SKOKHOZYAISTVENNAYA BIOLOGIYA [AGRICULTURAL BIOLOGY], 2014, ¹ 6, pp. 3-14 Reviews, reports, problems UDC 636.01+502.74):57.086.13 doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2014.6.3rus doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2014.6.3eng CRYOBANKING OF SOMATIC CELLS IN CONSERVATION OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES: PROSPECTS AND SUCCESSES (review) G.N. SINGINA, N.A. VOLKOVA, V.A. BAGIROV, N.A. ZINOVIEVA All-Russian Research Institute of Animal Husbandry, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, pos. <...> According to FAO, approximately 20 % of the breeds of cattle, goats, pigs, horses and poultry in the world are currently at risk of disappearance, many have died in the past few years, as a result their genetic characteristics lost forever. <...> The role of banks in the management of genetic resources and the conservation of endangered species is particularly noticeable in the last decade. <...> Most cryobanks focus on the cryopreservation of gametes (primarily sperm) and embryos. <...> Their main goal is to produce offspring using reproductive technologies, which include artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. <...> The discovery of the phenomenon of reprogramming somatic cell nuclear allowed expanding the range of forms of biological material in programs for cryopreservation. <...> Creating cryobanks of somatic cells as donors of nuclei for cloning considered an auxiliary instrument for the preservation and improvement of the gene pool of farm animals and poultry. <...> To obtain viable cryopreserved cell lines very small amount of biopsy material, including that of dead animals, is sufficient, but such lines contain the complete genome and proteome. <...> In contrast to germ cells, embryos and generative tissues, the cryopreserved somatic cells after repeated thawing are capable to regenerate, i.e. almost infinitely may serve as a source of biomaterial for use in assisted reproductive technologies and biological research, including retrospective reconstruction. <...> The advantages of the use of different cell types as karyoplasts are discussed. <...> In particular, almost all types of cells (e.g. embryonic cells, mammary cells, cumulus, granulosa, oviduct, liver, fibroblasts, white blood cells and embryonic stem cells) can be used for the production of cloned animals, but the cloning efficiency depends significantly on the type of cells. <...> Aiming embryo development and birth of live offspring, the fetal fibroblasts as donors of nuclear material for cloning are most effective. <...> Stem or progenitor <...>