In a groundbreaking achievement, Australian scientists have successfully created kangaroo embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the first time, marking a major milestone in marsupial conservation. The breakthrough, reported by The Guardian, was achieved using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique commonly used in human fertility treatments.
Researchers at the University of Queensland developed eastern grey kangaroo embryos by injecting a single sperm cell into a mature egg, demonstrating that assisted reproduction techniques could be applied to marsupials.
Dr. Andres Gambini, the lead researcher, described the success as a crucial step toward protecting endangered Australian species, including koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats, and Leadbeater’s possums.
“Australia is home to the greatest diversity of marsupial fauna on the planet, but it also has the highest mammal extinction rate. Our ultimate goal is to support preserving endangered marsupial species,” Dr. Gambini said.
So far, the research team has successfully produced over 20 kangaroo embryos using ICSI, with sperm and egg cells collected from recently deceased kangaroos at wildlife hospitals.
ICSI offers a significant advantage in conservation breeding, as it requires only a few live sperm cells rather than millions. This is particularly crucial for species like koalas, whose sperm viability deteriorates after freezing.
“We don’t need millions of sperm alive, we just need a few of them,” Dr. Gambini explained.
While there are no plans to bring the kangaroo embryos to term given the abundant population of eastern grey kangaroos focus is on refining IVF technology and gaining deeper insights into marsupial reproductive physiology.
“Our next step is to get better at the technology, understand more of the reproductive physiology, and move toward applying the same methods to other marsupials,” Dr. Gambini added.
The ultimate goal is to preserve genetic material from deceased animals and introduce greater diversity into marsupial populations.
“We need genetic variability in a population to guarantee its survival over time and to allow adaptation to environmental changes,” Dr. Gambini said.
Australia has one of the highest rates of mammal extinctions, with 38 species lost since colonization. Scientists hope this breakthrough will offer new solutions to combat the declining genetic diversity of threatened marsupials, ensuring their survival in the face of environmental challenges.
