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After five years of work, scientists have discovered the koala genetic code in a breakthrough that should help the long-term survival of one of the country's most beloved animals and could offer medical benefits for humans. [19659002AnAustralianteamof54scientistsfromtheworlddiscoverednewgenericinformationassthatcomforthekoalaputvivred"apparentlypoisonousfactsheetsofeucalyptusandcommentswasnothavingaminuteintheimmunesystem"
And while one researcher noted a gene that he had not discovered – that of "cute" that attracts animal lovers and animals. tourists – the team's discoveries on its unique biology have already tested chlamydia vaccines and other diseases
This is a project that began with the death of a seven-year-old female koala named Pacific Chocolate from Port Macquarie on the northwestern coast of New South Wales in 2012.
The original subject of koala genome research: Pacific Chocolate.
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The original subject of koala genome research: Pacific Chocolate.
When she was euthanized after being ravaged by chlamydia, her tissue was harvested for study. Two other koalas from southeastern Queensland – a man named Birke who had been hit by a car and Bilbo, another woman with chlamydia – were added later
The team's co-leader, Professor Rebecca Johnson, Museum Research Institute, said the project was inspired by the vulnerability of the koala due to disease and habitat loss due to clearing and urbanization
project compared to cutting an encyclopedia, throwing the pieces on the floor and reassembling them in order.
The koala genome is slightly larger than the human genome, with a similar number of genes – 26,558. Research to crack it has allowed scientists to develop vaccines to treat chlamydia that has caused blindness and infertility and that koalas are fleeing urine if they are not treated. With clearing, the disease was a major threat to koala populations
Archie the koala at the Featherdale Wildlife Park Photo: Jessica Hromas
"It is well accepted even by the NSW government The number of people will decline over the next three generations, only 20 years, "said Professor Johnson." The recognition that we will continue to decline without doing anything means that we are able to use science to inform policy. "
A discovery of the research was that koalas have "a lot of genes for detoxification" that allows them to live on eucalyptus leaves. "In reality, they are super-detoxers that allow them to eat this highly specialized diet," said Prof. Johnson
The other joint leader of the team, Professor Kathy Belov of the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney, said that the success of the project would better rer koala populations in difficulty
. koalas, "she says." But the problem is that they lack genetic diversity, which is very troubling because these types of people do not adapt well when there are new threats – of new diseases or changes due to climate change, for example.
– in southern Queensland and north of NSW – we have very healthy populations based on their genetics but [they] are now threatened due to urbanization.
"Having genetic data gives us a lot of power to really manage koalas on a fine scale and I think we have to do that."
Professor Belov said a new understanding of how koala milk helps Joeys survive when they are born could have applications for humans and other animals.
"We studied koalas milk and found more than 850 immune genes," she says. "Some of these genes are completely new and have not been seen"
The first five of these genes to study show the potential of peptides that could treat multidrug-resistant infections, including staphylococcus aureus in hospitals.
"We see opportunities to commercialize some of these drugs." We now have a good amount of data to help develop milk substitutes to feed the orphaned joeys. "
Jenny Graves, Professor La Trobe University, which was the pioneer of koala genetics in the 1980s, said the scientist under the identification of all marsupials was improved by cracking the koala genome.
" seems to be more genes than some other marsupials, "she said." We certainly know that there are more copies of genes that are particularly relevant to the koala, like s genes that can break down weeds in gum leaves. "
Additional" odorant "genes allowed koalas to detect eucalyptus leaves Professor Graves said that he was missing a gene
"The koala is the cutest animal on the planet, with the exception perhaps of pandas. , "she says." So, we were still after the "cute" gene Unfortunately, there is no such thing. "
