Scientists in Australia have successfully produced the world\u2019s first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilization, or IVF, a feat they hailed as a \u201cground-breaking achievement\u201d that could one day help save endangered species. <\/p>\n
The research could be pivotal for Australia\u2019s conservation efforts, given the country\u2019s urgent need to protect its endemic species after having one of the world\u2019s worst extinction records. <\/p>\n
Australia has lost at least 33 mammal species since European settlement of the already inhabited continent, according to Australian non-profit Invasive Species Council, a higher rate of extinction than other continent on Earth in recent history. <\/p>\n
Scientists at the University of Queensland first assessed how kangaroo eggs and sperm developed in a laboratory, before injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg, using a technique known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the university said Thursday. <\/p>\n
Andres Gambini, who led the research into the kangaroo embryo, said the technique could be applied to other animals under the threat of extinction. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur ultimate goal is to support the preservation of endangered marsupial species like koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats and Leadbeater\u2019s possums,\u201d he said, referring to mammals that carry their young in pouches and are an iconic feature of Australia\u2019s unusual fauna. <\/p>\n
\u201cAccess to marsupial tissues is challenging as they are less studied than domestic animals despite being iconic and integral to Australian biodiversity,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
In 2022, the Australian government announced a 10-year plan to eliminate further extinctions, which included efforts to conserve more than 30% of land mass and protect 110 priority species across the country. <\/p>\n
More than 2,200 species and ecosystems in Australia are classified as threatened with extinction, according to a 2023 report by non-profit Australian Conservation Foundation. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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