Researchers in Australia have successfully created the first kangaroo embryo using in vitro fertilization, or IVF, according to a new study.
The team from the University of Queensland used IVF to produce an embryo of the eastern gray kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). Researchers say they hope to use the information they’ve gathered to help with the conservation of other more threatened marsupial species.
The success of this procedure was a long time coming. “We worked very hard for 20, nearly 30, years to do IVF in any Australian marsupial without real success,” John Rodger, with the University of Newcastle in Australia, who wasn’t involved with the study, told The Guardian. He added the new study “looks to be really promising progress.”
IVF is a well-understood technology for many mammals, but “marsupial eggs and sperm are distinct in shape and size, requiring us to fine-tune our instruments,” Andres Gambini, a co-author of the study and senior lecturer at the University of Queensland’s School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, told Mongabay in an email.
Gambini’s team started with eastern gray kangaroos because they’re considered to be abundant and the researchers wouldn’t be risking the precious genetic material of a more threatened marsupial. “However, the knowledge gained can ultimately help a wide range of marsupials, including those at risk of extinction,” Gambini said.
At least 39 species of mammals have gone extinct in Australia since European colonization began in the 18th century; that’s the most mammal extinctions of any continent. The extinctions have largely been driven by habitat loss, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, including cats. Adding to the urgency of extinctions, roughly 87% of mammals in Australia are found nowhere else on Earth. So if they go extinct in the land down under, they’re gone from the world.
Gambini said IVF can potentially be used to help marsupials like the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii), of which there are just 300 remaining, and Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous gilbertii), which has a population of roughly 150.
“Even if IVF isn’t applied immediately, it’s crucial to act now by preserving genetic material — such as eggs, sperm, and embryos — from these species. By securing these samples today, we maintain a genetic ‘insurance policy’ that can be used in the future,” Gambini said.
This isn’t the first time IVF has been used in a last-ditch effort to save a species from extinction. Conservationists have also attempted IVF to help save the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) in Indonesia and the northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) in Africa.
The Australian researchers say they want to continue to improve their techniques and build connections with the government and research institutions. “This would allow us to quickly act if one of these precious endangered marsupials passes away, ensuring their genetic material is preserved,” Gambini said.
Banner image of an eastern gray kangaroo via pxhere (Public domain).
