By
Matt McGrathEnvironment correspondent
2
July 2018
Australia's
most famous tree hugger has been ravaged by sexually transmitted disease,
attacks from dogs, being hit by cars and habitat loss.
Chlamydia
has spread fast in koalas, causing infertility and blindness.
But
scientists say decoding the genome should
lead to an effective vaccine for the STD.
In
fact, researchers say they've been amazed by the information that's been hidden
in the marsupial's DNA.
While
they didn't find a gene for cuteness, they've worked out how koalas can survive
solely on a diet of eucalyptus - which poisons most other creatures that
consume it.
Genes
that are switched on in the koala's "cast-iron livers" appear to be
responsible for the ability to detoxify the leaves.
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