Koalas from a population north of the Brisbane River have evolved a unique genomic immunity to the killer retrovirus threatening their species.
Koalas from a population north of the Brisbane River have evolved a unique genomic immunity to the killer retrovirus threatening their species.
Researchers from The University of Queensland and UMass Chan Medical School discovered the adaptation, offering hope in the effort to save the beloved but endangered marsupial.
Professor Keith Chappell, a virologist with UQ’s Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, said the team were hopeful that this finding could lead to targeted breeding programs that could reduce rates of chlamydia and other health issues linked to koala retrovirus.
Read More: University of Queensland
Photo Credit: sandid via Pixabay
