September 15, 2020
The quokka, Setonix brachyurus, is a species of macropod that lives in a small pocket of Western Australia. This month researchers from The University of Western Australia announced that they had successfully mapped the quokka genome, just in time for National Quokka Day on September 15.
The quokka’s genome was sequenced as part of a global initiative the DNA Zoo project. This project aims to use the DNA of animals to better understand species, and threats to their survival. In the case of the quokka, officially a vulnerable species, it is hoped that this information will assist researchers in better understanding extinction risks and improve conservation efforts.
Learn more here: http://ow.ly/DHcj50BrLsI
