A biologist who built mini saunas for frogs has big plans to save hundreds of species. Standing ankle-deep in water between two bare cottonwood trees on a hot spring day, eight-year-old Anthony Waddle was absorbed by an attempt to net tadpoles swimming in a reservoir in the vast Mojave desert.
For him, it was "one of the perfect moments in my childhood", fascinated by the attempt to catch as many tadpoles as possible and admire them. Tadpoles, he says, are so cool because metamorphosis is one reason why kids bring them home to watch that change.
Years later, Waddle has gone from a child obsessed with animal trivia to becoming an award-winning conservation biologist on a mission to save frogs from the deadly chytrid fungus. The experiment worked – frogs that spent winters warmer in their new shelters were less likely to fall prey to the infectious fungal pathogen, which is temperature sensitive.
He's now working on raising and vaccinating hundreds of green and golden bell frogs for release into the wild. Not all species can be vaccinated, however. For those that can't, he's experimenting with gene replacement to help support their reintegration.
Synthetic biology, a discipline in which organisms are edited by introducing or deleting genetic material, is innovative but also controversial. Waddle believes it could help add diversity to populations stuck in genetic bottlenecks and make vulnerable species disease resistant.
The challenges of conservation keep him awake at night – not due to dread, but anticipation of possible solutions. He often finds himself thinking about new experiments he wants to conduct in the middle of the night, grinning as he says "usually if I can't sleep, it's something exciting".
For him, it was "one of the perfect moments in my childhood", fascinated by the attempt to catch as many tadpoles as possible and admire them. Tadpoles, he says, are so cool because metamorphosis is one reason why kids bring them home to watch that change.
Years later, Waddle has gone from a child obsessed with animal trivia to becoming an award-winning conservation biologist on a mission to save frogs from the deadly chytrid fungus. The experiment worked – frogs that spent winters warmer in their new shelters were less likely to fall prey to the infectious fungal pathogen, which is temperature sensitive.
He's now working on raising and vaccinating hundreds of green and golden bell frogs for release into the wild. Not all species can be vaccinated, however. For those that can't, he's experimenting with gene replacement to help support their reintegration.
Synthetic biology, a discipline in which organisms are edited by introducing or deleting genetic material, is innovative but also controversial. Waddle believes it could help add diversity to populations stuck in genetic bottlenecks and make vulnerable species disease resistant.
The challenges of conservation keep him awake at night – not due to dread, but anticipation of possible solutions. He often finds himself thinking about new experiments he wants to conduct in the middle of the night, grinning as he says "usually if I can't sleep, it's something exciting".
I'm loving this story about Anthony Waddle, a biologist who's on a mission to save frogs! It's amazing how one experiment with mini saunas for tadpoles led him to become an award-winning conservation biologist 
. The fact that his research is already showing promising results with temperature-sensitive fungal diseases makes me hopeful for the future of these incredible creatures 
. Synthetic biology might be a game-changer in conservation, and it's awesome to see someone like Waddle pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box 
. What if we could use gene replacement to revive extinct species? Mind blown! 
OMG, I'm so stoked about Anthony Waddle's work! Like, who wouldn't want to save frogs? 
The fact that he's using mini saunas for them is genius – who knew something as simple as a sauna could make a difference in their survival? 
And I love how he's experimenting with synthetic biology, like, think of the possibilities! 
It's so cool to see someone turning challenges into opportunities. Plus, I'm loving his positive attitude towards conservation – it's infectious! 
. talk about innovative problem solving 
! i'm low-key obsessed with synthetic biology rn, it's like the future of conservation 
. Waddle's approach is so cool, he's not just trying to save frogs, but also thinking about how to make them stronger and more resilient 
. This guy's work on mini saunas for frogs is actually kinda genius - who knew that providing a cozy spot for them to chill could be so effective in keeping them safe from this deadly fungus?! 
I'm all for any innovation that can help protect species, even if it gets a bit tricky and there are debates about its ethics. Gene replacement and synthetic biology might not be perfect solutions yet, but like Anthony said, at least they're being thought of and explored 
. What's next, genetically modifying frogs to be able to thrive in a world where climate change is real? It sounds like he's playing God with the tiny creatures and it's just going to come back to bite him. I mean, who are they to decide what's best for these species? What if something goes wrong during the vaccination process? The thought of gene replacement makes me cringe... it's a slippery slope towards creating super-organisms that could outcompete native species 
. Mark my words, this is just a temporary fix before the real problems come knocking on their door 
! i'm low-key amazed by his passion for saving frogs 
gotta respect his dedication to saving hundreds of species 
! But for real, it's awesome that he's trying new things to save species that are in trouble. It's also cool that his childhood curiosity about tadpoles led him to become a conservation biologist 
. It's not just about saving frogs; it's about giving them a fighting chance against extinction. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see more diversity in our ecosystems? 
... anyway, back to Anthony Waddle - what a hero! Those mini saunas for frogs are genius 
. It's amazing to think about how science and innovation can be used to help protect vulnerable species and the ecosystems they depend on.
!
! The way he's thinking outside the box (or terrarium) is giving me major hope for conservation efforts 
i feel like he's the real-life frog whisperer