Coals have super powers – and science has understood how they work

The genetic sequencing of these cute animals discovered how they manage to feed, essentially, on venom. And he can still save them from extinction.

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July 3, 2018, 4:45 pm

(Source of the Image / iStock)

Koalas are curious animals. They literally live in venom – feeding on eucalyptus leaves that, for most mammals, contain substances toxic enough to kill any animal.

An article published in Nature Genetics finally understood what lies behind this "superpower" – and revealed a number of others. The study, conducted by the Australian Center for Wildlife Genomics, sequenced the genome of the species to better understand koalas. And he ends up discovering a palace (and a liver) much more powerful than normal.

Have you ever imagined being able to determine the nutritional table of any food with a single lick? In determining which genes are active in the heart, liver and other tissues, the team found that koalas have an extra copy of a gene that helps them to evaluate the contents of the eye. 39, water and nutritional value of a leaf with a single lick. They are able to determine which foods are best for their diet.

But with such precise language, how do they decide to eat foods that are generally toxic? The research uncovered the answer: for the first time, the genes responsible for the liver detoxification of animals were identified – which was, probably a gift of evolution. If his liver succeeds in turning poisonous substances into other species, eucalyptus becomes an exclusive banquet for koalas – and so they can feed themselves without having to fight for food with others. animals.

However, even with all these superpowers, koalas are not as resilient as they may seem. They are on the list of endangered animals, largely because of forest fires and diseases. Their diet, although evolutionarily advantageous, makes them vulnerable to the disappearance of eucalyptus forests, which suffer from deforestation and climate change.

And besides, small animals suffer deeply from chlamydia outbreaks. Sexually transmitted diseases account for about 50% of Australian koalas. In addition to being lethal, the disease blinds them and renders them infertile.

The good news is that genetic sequencing can help save the species. All these data will be used for the development of new vaccines for animals, particularly chlamydia.In addition, genome mapping can help conservationists assess the kinship of animals and preserve their genetic diversity

Today, there are about 330,000 live koalas, of which only 43,000 live in the wild. The animal population was partially decimated by the fur trade between 1879 and 1929.