In 2008 New Zealand researchers were part of an international team that decoded the platypus genome1, revealing information that may enhance understanding of other mammals and lead to new approaches to combat disease2 in livestock and humans.
Professor Neil Gemmell of Otago University says the platypus is an important animal to study because it is only one of three living monotreme mammals that likely represent what ancient mammalian ancestors were like when they evolved3 over 166 million years ago.
Understanding the genetic makeup of the platypus tells us what genetic4 features are common to all mammals and which are unique. Researchers compared the platypus genome with that of humans, mice, possums, dogs and chickens and found it shares 82% of its genome with these other animals.
“It is representative of an ancient mammalian group that shares some of the features common to reptiles and birds, such as egg laying, but exhibits behaviours and traits5 that define mammals, such as producing milk and suckling its young,” Professor Gemmell says.
Scientists believe the reason genetic material is passed down is because it is important in some way.
“It has been conserved across vast evolutionary time frames and is likely present in every single mammal6 that exists today.”
The challenge now is for scientists to find out why particular information has been passed down through generations and establish what functions it is responsible for.
- genome: The complete set of DNA in any individual organism.
- diseases: 1. An abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions. 2. In plants, an abnormal condition that interferes with vital physiological processes.
- evolve: To develop gradually. Changes in successive generations over long periods of time.
- genetic: Of, relating to, or determined by genes.
- trait: Characteristic, usually a physical characteristic of a living organism, such as the height of a plant or the hair colour of a mammal.
- mammal: A warm-blooded animal, such as a human being, dog or whale, the female of which produces milk from mammary glands to feed her young/newborn offspring.
