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Koala Conservation: The Utility of Art and Genome Banking
1Schools of Environment and Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia. s.johnston1@uq.ed.au.
Abstract:
The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is currently listed as an endangered species in eastern Australia and faces significant anthropomorphic, disease, and stochastic climatic threats, so that a more active management approach is required for its survival. Given the development and success of captive breeding and assisted reproductive technology (ART) in this species over the last 25 years, this chapter critically examines the current and potential utility of genome banking (live and frozen) as a means of addressing the conservation challenges faced by the koala. After briefly outlining the present threats to the koala and the role of koala ART in facilitating genetic management, the technical, logistical, and translational challenges of establishing a frozen genome bank, and the lessons learned from a recently concluded pilot study on setting up a live genome resource bank, shall be discussed.
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