#cloud native development

[flentas]

Modern CI/CD Pipelines for Cloud-Native Applications 

In the hastily evolving landscape of software development, Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines have turn out to be instrumental in making sure agility, reliability, and efficiency in delivering cloud-native applications. In this blog put up, we will delve into the nuances of present day CI/CD pipelines tailored especially for cloud-native environments.  1. Understanding Cloud-Native CI/CD

Cloud-local CI/CD pipelines are designed to help the precise necessities of programs constructed using microservices structure, packing containers, serverless functions, and different cloud-native technologies. The key additives of a cloud-local CI/CD pipeline include: 

Source Code Management: Leveraging version control systems like Git to manage code changes and collaboration among developers. 

Automated Testing: Implementing computerized unit exams, integration checks, and end-to-stop exams to make certain code quality and capability. 

Containerization: Building Docker pix or the use of other containerization equipment to package deal applications and dependencies for consistent deployment. 

Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Defining infrastructure resources (e.G., Kubernetes clusters, cloud sources) as code using tools like Terraform or AWS CloudFormation. 

Continuous Integration (CI): Automating the manner of integrating code changes into a shared repository and going for walks automated tests to validate modifications. 

Continuous Deployment (CD): Automating the deployment of tested code adjustments to production or staging environments primarily based on predefined standards.  2. Key Practices for Modern CI/CD in Cloud-Native Environments A. GitOps Workflows: Embracing GitOps standards where the entire CI/CD pipeline, consisting of infrastructure modifications, is managed via model-controlled Git repositories. This allows declarative configuration and promotes transparency and auditability. B. Automated Testing Strategies: Implementing a complete suite of automated assessments, including unit tests, integration checks (e.G., the usage of equipment like Cypress or Selenium), and stop-to-give up assessments (e.G., the use of tools like Kubernetes E2E exams or Postman). Incorporating trying out into the pipeline guarantees faster feedback loops and early detection of problems. C. Immutable Deployments: Adopting immutable infrastructure styles in which deployments are made through replacing entire packing containers or serverless instances as opposed to editing current instances. This ensures consistency, reproducibility, and easier rollback in case of issues. D. Canary Deployments and Blue-Green Deployments: Leveraging canary deployments (gradual rollout to a subset of customers) and blue-green deployments (switching traffic among antique and new versions) to reduce downtime, validate changes in manufacturing, and mitigate dangers. E. Observability and Monitoring: Integrating tracking gear (e.G., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack) into the CI/CD pipeline to accumulate metrics, logs, and lines. This enables real-time visibility into utility overall performance, fitness, and problems, facilitating speedy response and troubleshooting. 3. Tools and Technologies for Cloud-Native CI/CD

CI/CD Platforms: Using structures like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps for orchestrating CI/CD workflows and integrating with model manage systems. 

Container Registries: Storing and handling Docker snap shots in registries inclusive of Docker Hub, Amazon ECR, or Google Container Registry for artifact management and distribution. 

Infrastructure Orchestration Tools: Utilizing Kubernetes for box orchestration and handling containerized workloads throughout clusters, inclusive of deployment techniques like rolling updates. 

Serverless Deployment Tools: Employing serverless deployment frameworks like AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, or Google Cloud Functions for deploying serverless applications and functions seamlessly. 

Continuous Delivery Pipelines: Designing quit-to-give up pipelines with degrees for building, checking out, deploying, and tracking programs, regularly using pipeline-as-code processes (e.G., Jenkinsfile, GitLab CI/CD YAML).  4. Benefits of Modern CI/CD for Cloud-Native Applications

Implementing contemporary CI/CD practices tailored for cloud-native packages gives several blessings, which include: 

Increased Agility: Rapid generation and deployment cycles permit faster time-to-market and responsiveness to purchaser feedback. 

Improved Quality: Automated testing and validation lessen errors, enhance code high-quality, and decorate common reliability. 

Cost Efficiency: Optimizing useful resource usage, scaling based on call for, and minimizing guide interventions result in price savings. 

Enhanced Collaboration: GitOps workflows sell collaboration amongst improvement, operations, and different stakeholders, fostering a culture of non-stop development. 

Resilience and Scalability: Immutable deployments, canary deployments, and infrastructure automation decorate resilience, scalability, and fault tolerance. 

In end, adopting cutting-edge CI/CD pipelines tailor-made for cloud-native environments is important for organizations looking for to innovate, supply extraordinary software effectively, and stay competitive in present day dynamic marketplace panorama. By embracing automation, excellent practices, and the right set of equipment, teams can streamline development workflows, accelerate releases, and supply value to stop-users constantly. 

For more details about our services, please visit our website – Flentas Technologies

[technomark]

The business sector did its best to adapt as the past two years delivered many spontaneous twists and turns. In the face of a global pandemic, offices all around the world hastily put together remote work policies. Businesses will continue to employ a mixed workforce model since many have discovered that remote labor increases flexibility and lowers overhead. 63% of rapidly expanding companies have already embraced a hybrid business model.

[gsoftcloud]

Best Cloud Native Development Services - Gsoft Cloud

Experience the best cloud-native development services from Gsoft Cloud. Upscale your business by leveraging the full potential of cloud-native technologies.

[2ribu]

Penggunaan Cloud Computing dalam Pengembangan AI: Alat dan Platform yang Meningkatkan Efisiensi

Cloud computing telah menjadi salah satu inovasi teknologi paling signifikan dalam dekade terakhir. Dalam pengembangan kecerdasan buatan (AI), peran cloud computing sangat penting karena memungkinkan pengembang untuk memanfaatkan infrastruktur dan layanan yang fleksibel, skalabel, dan hemat biaya. Dengan semakin kompleksnya algoritma AI dan meningkatnya kebutuhan akan data besar (big data), cloud…

[fusiondynamics]

What are Edge Computing Services?

Edge Computing Services

EDGE

Edge servers facilitate rapid on-site computing, reducing latency for time-sensitive applications like communications services, real-time navigation, AI-driven IoT devices for Smart City infrastructure, and high-quality AR/VR.

Edge computing services

Since edge servers handle the bulk of the workload for such applications, they must include ample computing resources and data memory, besides fast response times.

Advantages of our EDGE product offerings

Lower Operating Costs

Our edge servers help reduce the client’s operating costs across the board. Localized data processing will reduce your organization’s expenditure on network bandwidth, and faster response times lead to increased efficiency.

Capital Savings

With edge solutions, the requirement for centralized cloud computing and storage is minimized. Additionally, the use of edge servers ensures optimal use of locally available resources, contributing to further capital savings.

Stable Operation

Fusion Dynamics edge server racks can withstand extreme environments and shocks and are compatible with Class-A electromagnetic limits. This ensures that your edge solution is compliant with the industry standards for telecommunication infrastructure.

Data and Network Security

With Edge, your computing resources and data are contained on-site, close to user equipment. This local storage and transmission of sensitive data offers higher security. You can also configure local servers for additional access control without impacting the rest of your network. At scale, distributed deployment of servers across different edge locations limits the damage caused by data breaches, thus maximising your network security.

Accessibility and Usability

Our servers boast a modular design, which allows seamless front-end access and ease of service. Supporting a range of virtualization stacks, they can also be configured quickly to jumpstart your system and operations.

Contact Us

+91 95388 99792

aditya@fusiondynamics.io

[jcmarchi]

LambdaTest Raises $38M to Advance Software Quality Assurance with KaneAI, the Intelligent Testing Assistant

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/lambdatest-raises-38m-to-advance-software-quality-assurance-with-kaneai-the-intelligent-testing-assistant/

LambdaTest Raises $38M to Advance Software Quality Assurance with KaneAI, the Intelligent Testing Assistant

As software teams race to deliver seamless, high-quality digital experiences, LambdaTest—a leading intelligent, cloud-based QA platform—has secured $38 million in new funding. Led by Avataar Ventures, with participation from Qualcomm Ventures, this latest round brings LambdaTest’s total capital raised to $108 million. With more than 15,000 customers, including Fortune 500 and G2000 enterprises, and over 2.3 million developers and testers worldwide, LambdaTest is poised to redefine the future of software testing.

A New Era in Software Quality Assurance

LambdaTest’s core mission is to help businesses accelerate time to market through AI-driven, cloud-based test authoring, orchestration, and execution. By streamlining traditional quality engineering workflows, the company empowers development teams to deliver reliable, user-friendly software faster than ever before.

Key Advantages of LambdaTest’s QA Platform:

Cloud-Based Efficiency: Reduce dependency on complex in-house infrastructure by running tests on the cloud at scale.

Omnichannel Assurance: Test web and mobile apps across thousands of browser and OS combinations, ensuring the highest quality digital experiences.

Accelerated Delivery: Employ continuous testing practices and deliver features up to 70% faster, with fewer bugs slipping into production.

Meet KaneAI: The Intelligent Testing Assistant

Central to this advancement is KaneAI, LambdaTest’s intelligent testing assistant that replaces time-consuming manual scripting with AI-driven test automation. KaneAI uses large language models (LLMs) and intuitive natural language inputs to create, debug, and evolve tests dynamically.

With KaneAI, Teams Can:

Reduce Manual Effort by up to 40-70%: Focus on strategic quality initiatives rather than repetitive test case writing.

Easily Adapt to Change: Quickly update test suites as codebases evolve, ensuring that QA keeps pace with rapid release cycles.

Leverage No-Code Approaches: Allow non-technical stakeholders to participate in the testing process, broadening collaboration and improving coverage.

HyperExecute: Accelerating Test Execution and CI/CD Pipelines

Paired with KaneAI is HyperExecute, LambdaTest’s advanced test execution and orchestration cloud. HyperExecute intelligently distributes and executes tests in parallel, delivering:

2.5x Faster Test Resolution: Quickly identify and address issues before they impact end-users.

60% Quicker Error Detection: Surface and categorize errors with AI assistance, minimizing downtime.

Seamless CI/CD Integration: Integrate with popular pipelines like Jenkins, CircleCI, and GitHub Actions to maintain rapid release cadences without sacrificing quality.

Unified Testing Across Browsers, Devices, and More

To ensure top-notch digital experiences, LambdaTest offers a Browser Testing Cloud that supports both manual and automated testing on over 5,000 browser and OS combinations. Additionally, the Real Device Cloud enables testing on physical iOS and Android devices, simulating real-world conditions that reveal critical performance, UI, and functional issues before app updates reach end-users.

By Leveraging These Capabilities, Teams Can:

Validate usability and compatibility across diverse browsers and platforms.

Identify bottlenecks and visually compare UI states to ensure consistent customer experiences.

Confirm that apps run smoothly under varying network conditions and device performance profiles.

Deep Integrations for a Complete Testing Ecosystem

LambdaTest seamlessly integrates with 120+ tools and frameworks, from Selenium, Cypress, and Playwright to CI/CD platforms, project management systems, analytics dashboards, and more. This unified ecosystem ensures that QA insights inform every stage of development, enabling tighter collaboration among developers, testers, product managers, and business stakeholders.

Some Integration Highlights:

Project Management: Connect with Jira, Asana, and Trello to log issues and track progress.

CI/CD Pipelines: Plug into Jenkins, CircleCI, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps for continuous testing at scale.

Analytics & Reporting: Aggregate test data, generate custom dashboards, and glean actionable insights into performance, coverage, and reliability.

Why Enterprises Choose LambdaTest

Large-scale organizations trust LambdaTest to help them innovate faster, maintain reliability, and increase return on investment. By unifying test environments, eliminating infrastructure hassles, and enabling AI-powered automation, LambdaTest accelerates the path from code commit to product release—without compromising on quality.

Core Benefits Include:

Increased Release Velocity: Streamlined workflows and quicker feedback loops mean faster iterations.

Improved Developer Productivity: Engineers focus on creating features, not fighting infrastructure or manual QA tasks.

Enhanced Observability and Insights: Real-time dashboards, error categorization, and flaky test analysis guide informed decision-making.

Backed by Industry Leaders

Investors recognize LambdaTest’s potential in shaping the future of QA. “As AI applications become more prevalent, continuous testing with AI-driven automation is essential,” noted Quinn Li, Senior Vice President of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Similarly, Nishant Rao, Founding Partner at Avataar Ventures, highlighted LambdaTest’s disruptive approach: “They’ve introduced AI-native, no-code QA solutions and enterprise-grade test orchestration, redefining industry standards.”

Looking Ahead

With the new $38 million infusion, LambdaTest will continue to drive advancements in AI-powered testing, ensuring that every software interaction meets the highest quality standards. As enterprises transition to cloud-native, iterative development models, LambdaTest is uniquely positioned to serve as a strategic partner—delivering unparalleled efficiency, intelligence, and reliability to teams worldwide.

[techcronus]

.NET Aspire: A Game-Changer for Cloud-Native Development Services

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are constantly seeking innovative solutions to meet the demands of an ever-evolving marketplace. Cloud-native development has emerged as a pivotal approach that allows organizations to build, deploy, and manage applications with agility and scalability. At the forefront of this revolution is .NET Aspire, a robust framework designed to enhance cloud-native development services. This blog explores how .NET Aspire is transforming the development landscape and why businesses should consider it for their next project.

What is .NET Aspire?

.NET Aspire is an advanced iteration of the .NET framework, tailored specifically for cloud-native environments. It incorporates modern development practices and tools that streamline the application lifecycle, making it easier for developers to create resilient and scalable applications. By leveraging the power of microservices architecture, containerization, and DevOps practices, .NET Aspire empowers organizations to deliver high-quality applications faster and more efficiently.

Key Features of .NET Aspire

Microservices Architecture: .NET Aspire encourages the use of microservices, allowing developers to break down applications into smaller, manageable components. This modular approach enables teams to develop, deploy, and scale each service independently, resulting in enhanced flexibility and faster time-to-market.

Seamless Integration with Cloud Providers: One of the standout features of .NET Aspire is its seamless integration with major cloud providers like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. This integration allows businesses to leverage cloud services, such as databases, storage, and serverless computing, to enhance their applications' capabilities.

Enhanced Security Features: Security is paramount in cloud-native development. .NET Aspire comes equipped with built-in security features, including authentication and authorization mechanisms, to protect applications from vulnerabilities. Additionally, its compliance with industry standards ensures that businesses can maintain regulatory requirements.

Powerful DevOps Tools: DevOps is essential for achieving continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) in cloud-native development. .NET Aspire integrates with popular DevOps tools, enabling teams to automate testing, deployment, and monitoring processes. This automation not only increases efficiency but also improves the overall quality of applications.

Cross-Platform Development: With .NET Aspire, developers can create applications that run seamlessly across multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. This cross-platform capability reduces development time and costs, allowing businesses to reach a wider audience.

Benefits of Adopting .NET Aspire for Cloud-Native Development Services

Faster Time-to-Market: By leveraging the features of .NET Aspire, development teams can accelerate the application development process. The framework's microservices architecture and automated DevOps tools enable rapid iterations, allowing businesses to respond quickly to market demands.

Improved Scalability: .NET Aspire is designed to handle the dynamic needs of cloud-native applications. Its microservices approach allows organizations to scale individual services based on demand, ensuring optimal performance even during peak usage times.

Cost Efficiency: By reducing development time and improving application performance, .NET Aspire helps businesses cut costs associated with development and maintenance. Additionally, its compatibility with various cloud services allows organizations to choose cost-effective solutions for their needs.

Enhanced Collaboration: The modular nature of .NET Aspire promotes collaboration among development teams. Each team can focus on specific microservices, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.

Future-Proof Technology: As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, adopting modern frameworks like .NET Aspire ensures that organizations remain competitive. The framework's ongoing updates and support for emerging technologies make it a future-proof investment.

Conclusion

As businesses increasingly adopt cloud-native strategies, the need for frameworks that support rapid, efficient, and secure development has never been more critical. .NET Aspire stands out as a game-changer in this domain, equipping developers with the tools they need to create modern, scalable applications that thrive in cloud environments. By leveraging .NET Aspire for cloud-native development services, organizations can enhance their agility, optimize costs, and deliver exceptional user experiences.

For more information on how .NET Aspire can transform your development process, visit Techcronus .NET Aspire Development today. Embrace the future of cloud-native development with .NET Aspire!

[flentas]

Securing Cloud-Native Applications: Best Practices in Cloud-Native Security 

As companies more and more undertake cloud-local architectures, making sure robust safety features becomes paramount. Cloud-local protection encompasses various practices and technologies aimed at protective programs, statistics, and infrastructure in dynamic and disbursed environments. In this blog publish, we'll explore pleasant practices for securing cloud-local packages and delve into key techniques for mitigating risks and preserving a sturdy protection posture. 

Understanding Cloud-Native Security: 

Cloud-local security extends beyond conventional perimeter-based defences to deal with the particular demanding situations posed by containerized environments, microservices architectures, and dynamic orchestration systems. Key components of cloud-native safety include: 

Identity and Access Management (IAM): Implementing sturdy IAM guidelines guarantees that most effective authorized users and offerings can access sources within cloud-local environments. Role-primarily based get right of entry to control (RBAC), multi-aspect authentication (MFA), and least privilege principles are fundamental to IAM in cloud-native security. 

Encryption: Encrypting information at rest and in transit facilitates shield sensitive data from unauthorized access and facts breaches. Utilize strong encryption algorithms and control encryption keys securely to protect information integrity and confidentiality. 

Secrets Management: Effectively managing secrets, which include API keys, passwords, and tokens, is important in cloud-native safety. Leverage devoted secrets control equipment and practices to store, get admission to, and rotate secrets and techniques securely, minimizing the danger of publicity and unauthorized access. 

Compliance and Governance: Adhering to regulatory necessities and industry standards is important for maintaining compliance in cloud-native environments. Implement governance frameworks, behavior everyday audits, and ensure facts safety measures align with relevant guidelines and excellent practices. 

Advanced Security Techniques: 

To enhance security in cloud-local environments, keep in mind adopting superior safety techniques which include: 

Container Security: Implement container safety excellent practices, inclusive of photo scanning for vulnerabilities, runtime safety, and secure field configurations. Utilize box security systems and tools to stumble on and mitigate safety threats at the container level. 

Zero Trust Architecture: Embrace a zero believe protection model that verifies every get entry to request, regardless of the supply or vicinity. Implement network segmentation, put into effect least privilege access controls, and monitor consumer and alertness conduct to prevent lateral motion and insider threats. 

Threat Intelligence and Monitoring: Leverage danger intelligence feeds and safety tracking solutions to come across and reply to protection incidents proactively. Implement actual-time tracking, anomaly detection, and automatic incident reaction workflows to mitigate dangers and defend cloud-local property. 

Best Practices for Cloud-Native Security: 

To reinforce cloud-native safety posture, observe those high-quality practices: 

Conduct Regular Security Assessments: Perform everyday safety tests, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing to become aware of and remediate safety gaps in cloud-local environments. 

Educate and Train Teams: Provide protection cognizance education to builders, operations teams, and stakeholders to foster a way of life of security and ensure adherence to security policies and practices. 

Implement DevSecOps Practices: Integrate security into the DevOps pipeline through DevSecOps practices, including automated protection testing, code analysis, and secure CI/CD pipelines. Shift safety is left in the improvement system to perceive and address vulnerabilities early.  

Conclusion: 

Securing cloud-native packages requires a holistic technique that encompasses identification control, encryption, secrets and techniques control, compliance, and advanced safety techniques. By imposing exceptional practices, leveraging superior security technology, and fostering a protection-targeted way of life, companies can mitigate security risks, guard sensitive facts, and construct resilient and steady cloud-native architectures. Prioritizing cloud-native safety is vital in cutting-edge risk panorama to safeguard against evolving cyber threats and make certain the integrity and confidentiality of cloud-native environments. 

For more details about our services please visit our website – Flentas Technologies 

[agiledock]

Harnessing Containerization in Web Development: A Path to Scalability

Explore the transformative impact of containerization in web development. This article delves into the benefits of containerization, microservices architecture, and how Docker for web apps facilitates scalable and efficient applications in today’s cloud-native environment.

[apexon-digital]

Embracing the Future: Cloud-Native Development Services for Modern Enterprises

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, enterprises need to deliver software faster and more efficiently to stay competitive. This is where cloud-native development services come into play. By leveraging the cloud’s power, businesses can build and run scalable applications in dynamic environments such as public, private, and hybrid clouds. In this blog, we’ll explore what cloud-native development services are, why they’re crucial for modern businesses, and how they can drive innovation and agility.

What are Cloud-Native Development Services?

Cloud-native development services refer to the methodologies and practices used to develop, deploy, and manage applications that are specifically designed for cloud environments. Unlike traditional monolithic applications, cloud-native applications are built using microservices, which are independently deployable services that work together to form a complete application. These services are containerized, ensuring they run consistently across different environments and can be managed with orchestration tools like Kubernetes.

Key Components of Cloud-Native Development Services

Microservices Architecture: This involves breaking down an application into smaller, independent services that communicate with each other via APIs. This allows for easier management, scalability, and faster development cycles.

Containers: Containers package an application along with its dependencies, ensuring it runs reliably regardless of the environment. Tools like Docker are widely used to create and manage containers.

DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines: Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines are essential for automating the testing and deployment of cloud-native applications, enabling faster releases with fewer errors.

Orchestration and Management: Tools like Kubernetes are used to manage and orchestrate containers, ensuring that the application runs smoothly even as it scales.

Serverless Computing: This model allows developers to focus solely on writing code without worrying about the underlying infrastructure, further enhancing agility and reducing operational overhead.

Benefits of Cloud-Native Development Services

1. Scalability and Flexibility

Cloud-native applications are inherently designed to scale. As business requirements change, enterprises can quickly scale services up or down without affecting the overall performance. This flexibility ensures that companies can handle varying loads without over-provisioning resources.

2. Faster Time-to-Market

By adopting cloud-native development services, businesses can reduce their time-to-market significantly. The microservices architecture allows different teams to work on separate components simultaneously, speeding up the development process. Combined with CI/CD pipelines, this approach ensures rapid, reliable releases.

3. Resilience and Fault Tolerance

Cloud-native applications are built with failure in mind. The microservices architecture ensures that even if one component fails, the others continue to function, minimizing downtime. Additionally, containers can be quickly redeployed in case of failure, ensuring high availability.

4. Cost Efficiency

Cloud-native development services allow businesses to optimize resource utilization. Companies can use serverless computing and containers to pay only for the resources they use, reducing unnecessary costs associated with maintaining idle infrastructure.

5. Enhanced Security

Security is a top priority in cloud-native environments. Containers isolate applications and their dependencies, reducing the attack surface. Furthermore, cloud providers offer built-in security features like identity management, data encryption, and access controls to protect applications and data.

Implementing Cloud-Native Development Services: Best Practices

Adopt a DevOps Culture: Foster collaboration between development and operations teams. Implement CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment.

Leverage Kubernetes for Orchestration: Use Kubernetes to manage containerized applications at scale. It automates deployment, scaling, and operations of application containers.

Use Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Tools like Terraform and AWS CloudFormation enable you to define and manage your infrastructure using code, ensuring consistency across environments.

Prioritize Observability: Implement monitoring and logging from the outset. Use tools like Prometheus and Grafana to gain insights into the performance and health of your applications.

Choose the Right Cloud Provider: Select a cloud provider that aligns with your business needs. Consider factors like cost, performance, and the availability of managed services.

The Future of Cloud-Native Development Services

The future of cloud-native development services is promising. With advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, we can expect even more intelligent automation and self-healing capabilities for cloud-native applications. Additionally, the growth of edge computing will further expand the reach and capabilities of cloud-native solutions, enabling businesses to process data closer to where it is generated.

Conclusion

Cloud-native development services are not just a trend but a necessity for modern enterprises looking to innovate and stay competitive. By embracing this approach, businesses can achieve greater agility, scalability, and resilience while optimizing costs and enhancing security. As cloud-native technologies continue to evolve, companies that invest in these services today will be well-positioned to lead in the digital era.

[faisalakhtar12]

The Serverless Development Dilemma: Local Testing in a Cloud-Native World

Picture this: You’re an AWS developer, sitting in your favorite coffee shop, sipping on your third espresso of the day. You’re working on a cutting-edge serverless application that’s going to revolutionize… well, something. But as you try to test your latest feature, you realize you’re caught in a classic “cloud” vs “localhost” conundrum. Welcome to the serverless development dilemma! The…

[reasonsforhope]

"Once thought to be extinct, black-footed ferrets are the only ferret native to North America, and are making a comeback, thanks to the tireless efforts of conservationists.

Captive breeding, habitat restoration, and wildlife reintegration have all played a major role in bringing populations into the hundreds after near total extinction.

But one other key development has been genetic cloning.

In April [2024], the United States Fish and Wildlife Service announced the cloning of two black-footed ferrets from preserved tissue samples, the second and third ferret clones in history, following the birth of the first clone in December 2020. 

Cloning is a tactic to preserve the health of species, as all living black-footed ferrets come from just seven wild-caught descendants.  This means their genetic diversity is extremely limited and opens them up to greater risks of disease and genetic abnormalities. 

Now, a new breakthrough has been made.

Antonia, a black-footed ferret cloned from the DNA of a ferret that lived in the 1980s has successfully birthed two healthy kits of her own: Sibert and Red Cloud.

These babies mark the first successful live births from a cloned endangered species — and is a milestone for the country’s ferret recovery program.

The kits are now three months old, and mother Antonia is helping to raise them — and expand their gene pool.

In fact, Antonia’s offspring have three times the genetic diversity of any other living ferrets that have come from the original seven ancestors.

Researchers believe that expanded genetic diversity could help grow the ferrets’ population and help prime them to recover from ongoing diseases that have been massively detrimental to the species, including sylvatic plague and canine distemper. 

“The successful breeding and subsequent birth of Antonia's kits marks a major milestone in endangered species conservation,” said Paul Marinari, senior curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. 

“The many partners in the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program continue their innovative and inspirational efforts to save this species and be a model for other conservation programs across the globe.”

Antonia actually gave birth to three kits, after mating with Urchin, a 3-year-old male ferret. One of the three kits passed away shortly after birth, but one male and one female are in good health and meeting developmental milestones, according to the Smithsonian.

Mom and babies will remain at the facility for further research, with no plans to release them into the wild.

According to the Colorado Sun, another cloned ferret, Noreen, is also a potential mom in the cloning-breeding program. The original cloned ferret, Elizabeth Ann, is doing well at the recovery program in Colorado, but does not have the capabilities to breed. 

Antonia, who was cloned using the DNA of a black-footed ferret named Willa, has now solidified Willa’s place as the eighth founding ancestor of all current living ferrets.

“By doing this, we’ve actually added an eighth founder,” said Tina Jackson, black-footed ferret recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in an interview with the Colorado Sun. 

“And in some ways that may not sound like a lot, but in this genetic world, that is huge.”

Along with the USFWS and Smithsonian, conservation organization Revive & Restore has also enabled the use of biotechnologies in conservation practice. Co-founder and executive director Ryan Phelan is thrilled to welcome these two new kits to the black-footed ferret family.

“For the first time, we can definitively say that cloning contributed meaningful genetic variation back into a breeding population,” he said in a statement.

“As these kits move forward in the breeding program, the impact of this work will multiply, building a more robust and resilient population over time.”"

-via GoodGoodGood, November 4, 2024