UWA scientist collaborates with international researchers to discover why some marsupials fly

An international team of researchers — including one from the University of Western Australia — have unlocked the secret behind why some of the planet’s cutest critters can fly.

The groundbreaking research, led by Princeton University’s Ricardo Mallarino in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine’s Erez Lieberman Aiden and UWA’s Parwinder Kaur, found some marsupials had a genetic variation that allowed them to evolve to fly and glide.

Researchers compared DNA sequences in gliding and non-gliding species and found that gliding species — such as the sugar glider — had “accelerated evolution” near the Emx2 gene.

When comparing mice and sugar gliders, researchers found that while Emx2 was active in both animals, it was expressed for “far longer” in the sugar gliders.

Professor Kaur — who is also the director of DNA Zoo Australia — said marsupial joeys lived in pouches, making it easier to conduct the research.

“Marsupial joeys enter the world at a notable premature developmental stage compared to most mammals,” Dr Kaur said.

“Instead of completing their development in utero, these young marsupials find refuge in their mother’s pouch, continuing their growth journey until they are prepared to face the world.

“The unique proximity within the pouch offers an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the influence of specific genes and to shed light on the genetic mechanisms underpinning their evolutionary adaptations.”

The study was published in British science journal Nature.

“The results not only deepen our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of biological diversity but also emphasises the importance of conservation efforts to preserve these unique adaptations,” Dr Lieberman Aiden said.