Biotechnology Australia CU – A study conducted at the Australian National University had conducted DNA mapping for over 150 indigenous species of rodents from all over Australia, New Guinea and Melanesian islands, painting a clearer picture of how they’re related and how they were distributed across the Pacific.
Dr Emily Roycroft who was the lead author stated that indigenous rodents are an often-underestimated evolutionary group.
She also said “There are over 150 species in Australia and New Guinea that aren’t found anywhere else in the world, like the rakali – or ‘water rat’ – that’s often-seen swimming around Canberra’s lakes,”
The study used a new technique to extract DNA from museum specimens up to 180 years old, including many extinct and elusive species.
“One specimen of Guadalcanal rat from the Solomon Islands dates back to the 1880s, and the species hasn’t been seen since. It’s listed as critically endangered, and very possibly already extinct. We were curious to revisit these old specimens using modern technology,” Dr Roycroft said.
Researchers have demonstrated that New Guinea mountain formation 5 million years ago forced indigenous rodents to scatter across the region. New Guineas expansion paved the way for new ecospheres of rodents to get established with more links to Australia, Solomon Islands and Maluku Islands.
Dr Roycroft further stated “We’ve known for some time that Australia’s native rodents originated in Asia and arrived in our region via water – possibly a single pregnant animal floating across on a piece of driftwood. Now we have an accurate timeline for this, and an explanation for why we see so many species today.”
DNA mapping has often been used in biotechnology introduce new genes into species, however recently more scientists from across the world, have looked into applying biotechnological methods in conservation with research looking in the cloning endangered species. The researchers hope to use DNA mapping findings to help conserve the rodent species.
