Description

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Context:

Recently, A team of scientists from the University of Queensland, Australia, has made an important achievement by creating 28 kangaroo embryos using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
This is a huge step towards protecting endangered marsupial species & IVF can help animals that are in danger of extinction.

What are Marsupials?

Marsupials are a type of mammal that gives birth to babies that are not fully developed. The babies then continue to grow and develop inside the mother's pouch.

Key Features
Pouch	Most marsupials have a pouch on the mother's belly where babies grow after birth.
Epipubic Bone	Marsupials have an extra bone called the epipubic bone that supports the pouch and helps the mother to move while carrying the baby.
Examples of Marsupials	Kangaroos, Koalas, Tasmanian Devils, Opossums, Wombats, Wallabies, Bandicoots, Thylacine (extinct)
Marsupial Classification	Marsupials are part of mammals that share a common ancestor. This group is called metatherians, & it includes all mammals that are more closely related to marsupials than to placental mammals (like humans, dogs, or cats).
Not All Have Pouches	Not all marsupials have pouches. For example, the marsupial mole does not have a pouch.
Where They Live	Most marsupials (around two-thirds) live in Australia, while the rest are found in South America.
Total Species	There are more than 330 species of marsupials worldwide.

What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a medical process that helps people who face difficulty to get pregnant. It involves fertilizing an egg outside the body (in labs) and placing the resulting embryo into the uterus.

How IVF Process works ?

The woman’s ovaries are given the medications to produce multiple eggs instead of just one & this increases the chances of successful fertilization.
Egg Retrieval: Once the eggs are ready, a doctor collects them from the ovaries by using a thin needle, typically guided by ultrasound.
Fertilization: Then, these eggs are mixed with sperm in the lab.
Embryo Culture: Then these fertilized eggs (embryos) are allowed to grow in the lab for a few days.
Embryo Transfer: Once the embryos are ready, one or more healthy embryos are chosen & placed into the woman’s uterus.

Types of IVF

Traditional IVF: Uses the couple’s own eggs & sperm.
Donor IVF: Uses eggs, sperm, or embryos from a donor.

Importance of IVF in Marsupial Conservation

Protecting Endangered Species: Australia has lost 87% of its unique mammal species in the past 250 years. This happened due to loss of habitat. So Creating kangaroo embryos by using IVF provides a new way to save animals which are at risk of extinction.
Conservation for Other Species:
- The same IVF techniques used for kangaroos can be applied to conserve other endangered marsupials like:
  - Koalas
  - Tasmanian Devils
  - Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats
  - Leadbeater’s Possums
- Previously In 2024, Scientists have successfully created the world’s first IVF pregnancy in rhinos. This procedure was done with southern white rhinos, which are closely related to northern white rhinos.

Conclusion

The success of creating kangaroo embryos through IVF is an important step in protecting marsupials. This new technique could help save kangaroos and other endangered species, making it an exciting and promising development for animal conservation.

Source:

DTE

UPSC Mains Practice Question:

Q. Discuss the significance of creating kangaroo embryos via In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in the conservation of endangered marsupials. How can IVF techniques aid in the protection of other species?