Scientists make mountain pygmy breakthrough - ABC Online
Updated
Scientists hope a breakthrough in a breeding program for endangered mountain pygmy possums will help the species survive in Victoria.
Zoos Victoria says they have produced a hybrid litter by breeding possums from two genetically distinct populations at Mt Hotham and Mt Buller, in the state's north-east.
The first hybrid litter was born at the Healesville Sanctuary in 2008.
All three females produced young at the start of the year, but it was only last week that paternity tests revealed the male was a father.
Zoos Victoria's reproductive biologist Dr Marissa Parrott says she did not know if it was possible to produce fertile young from a hybrid litter, because the populations had been separated for 10,000 years.
"We've just shown that all four of our hybrids have produced young and they're very healthy young," she said.
"They're all just hitting their breeding season at the moment, so we're hoping for more hybrids this year.
"We've shown that we can actually perform a genetic rescue for the first time in Australia."
Dr Parrott says the litters were fathered by two males.
"Females are breeding with two different males and are giving birth to a litter of up to four young with two different fathers," she said.
"This is extremely important, as it could significantly increase our genetic diversity in a shorter period of time and allow us to fight extinction for the endangered mountain pygmy possum."
First posted
17 Oct, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNERg7UHsGwyXT0ka7wIWryRwy0rgQ&url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-17/scientists-make-mountain-pgymy-breeding-breakthrough/3575062?site=melbourne
~
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
