In a landmark achievement, Australian scientists have successfully created the first kangaroo embryos using in vitro fertilization (IVF), marking a significant step forward for the conservation of endangered marsupial species. This breakthrough, reported by the Guardian, signifies the first instance of a kangaroo embryo being produced through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique commonly employed in human IVF.

ICSI breakthrough at the University of Queensland

Researchers at the University of Queensland utilized ICSI to create eastern grey kangaroo embryos, injecting a single sperm cell directly into a mature egg. The team has successfully produced over 20 kangaroo embryos using this method. They collected sperm and egg cells from kangaroos that had recently died at wildlife hospitals.

Dr. Andres Gambini, lead researcher from the University of Queensland, hailed the achievement as a significant milestone for marsupial conservation.

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“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 like koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats and Leadbeater’s possums,” Dr Gambini said.

Focus on endangered species

The team chose eastern grey kangaroos as the test species due to their widespread presence and large population, which provided an abundance of genetic material[1]. According to researchers, while eastern grey kangaroos are not endangered, the knowledge gained can be applied to help conserve other vulnerable marsupials like koalas and Tasmanian devils.

Notably, ICSI is particularly useful in conservation efforts because it requires only a few live sperm cells, which is beneficial for species like koalas that often have compromised sperm viability after freezing. “We don’t need millions of sperm alive, we just need a few of them,” Dr Gambini explained.

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Future research

The team does not plan to bring the IVF kangaroo embryos to term, because the eastern grey kangaroo population is stable. Instead, they will focus on refining the technology and gaining a deeper understanding of marsupial reproductive physiology.

“Our next step is to start getting better at the technology, understanding more of the reproductive physiology … so we can move towards applying the same technology to other marsupials,” Gambini added.

Preserving genetic diversity

The research team hopes to use IVF to preserve genetic material from deceased animals to introduce diversity into ecosystems. “We need genetic variability in a population to guarantee that population to survive over time and to be able to adapt to the environment,” Dr Gambini said.

Addressing Australia’s extinction crisis

Australia faces a severe biodiversity crisis with an alarming record of mammal extinctions; 38 species have been lost since colonization. A 2023 report noted that more than 2,200 species and ecosystems in Australia are threatened with extinction. This research represents a crucial step towards mitigating further losses and safeguarding the nation’s unique marsupial fauna. The scientists estimate that the birth of a marsupial via IVF could become a reality within a decade.