ISTANBUL

Australian scientists announced Thursday the creation of the world's first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilization, calling it a crucial jump towards saving other marsupial species from extinction.

Andres Gambini, the lead researcher, stated that this groundbreaking achievement offers valuable insights into marsupial reproduction and highlights the potential of assisted reproductive technologies in conservation efforts.

The milestone was reached through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, where a single sperm is directly injected into a mature egg with a needle, using samples from eastern grey kangaroos.

"Because eastern grey kangaroos are overabundant, we collected their eggs and sperm for use as a model to adapt the embryo technologies already applied to domestic animals and humans," Gambini said.

Australia is home to the planet's richest diversity of marsupials, yet it also has the highest rate of mammal extinctions.

"We are now refining techniques to collect, culture, and preserve marsupial eggs and sperm. By developing preservation methods, we aim to safeguard the genetic material of these unique and precious animals for future use to ensure their conservation," Gambini added.