The first kangaroo embryos produced through in-vitro fertilsation could pave the way for other marsupial species, such as koalas and wombats, to be saved from extinction.
The groundbreaking achievement has provided valuable insights into the potential for assisted marsupial breeding for conservation, University of Queensland researchers say.
"Australia is home to the greatest diversity of marsupial fauna on the planet but it also has the highest mammal extinction rate," veterinarian scientist Andres Gambini said on Thursday.
"Our ultimate goal is to support the preservation of endangered marsupial species like koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats and Leadbeater's possums."
The study assessed the development of kangaroo eggs and sperm in a laboratory before embryos were produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
It's a technique that involves injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg.
"Because eastern grey kangaroos are overabundant, we collected their eggs and sperm for use as a model to adapt the embryo technologies already applied to domestic animals and humans," Dr Gambini said.
Despite being iconic and integral to Australian biodiversity, access to marsupial tissues is challenging because they are less studied than domestic animals
"We are now refining techniques to collect, culture and preserve marsupial eggs and sperm," Dr Gambini said.
The research team hopes the first marsupial birth through IVF could happen within a decade.
But it said this would require further scientific collaboration, funding and technical advancements.
Koalas and Tasmanian devils, are listed as endangered in several states, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Australia.
The Leadbeater's possum and northern hairy-nosed wombats are listed as critically endangered.
