A giant leap for roo-kind

DNA analysis of Skippy’s genes to assist human health, agriculture and wildlife conservation

Last minute intervention by the Victorian Government has saved a $12 million US/Australia collaboration to determine the complete genetic code of a kangaroo. 

“The kangaroo genome initiative offers Victoria the opportunity to exploit a unique natural experiment,” says Sue Forrest, Director of the Australian Genome Research Facility. 

“We had until 31 March to find $6 million to match the US government offer. The Victorian government offer of $4.5 million takes us over the line. It demonstrates that Australia is serious about big genetics – it’s our chance to catch up and join the genetics revolution. It will be good for science, good for biotech and good for the community.”

This is a $12 million dollar effort. The US National Institutes of Health have also offered an additional $6 million – provided we can again match it. We’ll be inviting the Federal government and the other States to follow Victoria’s lead – creating a $24 million program.

“Kangaroos show extraordinary adaptability to environmental challenges,” says Sue Forrest. “They have unique features of lactation and reproduction that can help in the dairy industry, in livestock fertility and in the better understanding and management of human fertility and infertility.”

An understanding of kangaroo lactation offers the prospect of adding value to milk and milk products.

An understanding of kangaroo reproduction will

• Help us understand and manage human fertility and infertility problems
• Help us understand and manipulate sex determination in the livestock industries - and other aspects of fertility valuable to the livestock industries.

Why is the kangaroo genome important?

The marsupial genome offers insights into the genetic programming of all mammals – including humans.  Because they are such distant relatives in the mammalian family tree, they are sufficiently different from us to make useful comparisons which may point the way to how we evolved.

“When you find a gene in humans and kangaroos that has hardly changed in 180 million years of evolution you know you are onto something important to human development,” says Sue Forrest.

Sue Forrest and John Brumby, Minister for State and Regional Development will be available for interview at Melbourne Zoo at 10 am. Scientists and sequencing robots are available for filming all day at the Australian Genome Research Facility at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute at 1G Royal Parade, Parkville. Call Niall on 03 5253 1391 for details.

For interview and comment contact Dr Sue Forrest on (03) 9345-2449, (0407) 864095.