The Centre aims to map and provide essential data for the completion of the sequence and assembly of the entire wallaby genome as a representative kangaroo and to explore functional biology of marsupial as models for understanding genomics, reproduction and development in mammals. The Centre will use this information to make fundamental discoveries about the organization, function and evolution of mammal genomes, including human.
The animal model for our studies is a small member of the kangaroo family, the tammar (Macropus eugenii). The tammar wallaby has been selected as it is amenable to handling and breeds well in captivity. It is also well understood, having been the subject of research in marsupial genetics and genomics, as well as physiological, developmental and ecological studies over many years.
Over the next three years (2008-2010) the Centre will expand its focus from two, to all eight chromosomes, of the female tammar wallaby genome.
The ARC Centre of Excellence for Kangaroo Genomics, fondly called KanGO.
