Overview
- The genomes of both the greater bilby and the extinct lesser bilby have been sequenced for the first time.
- Researchers used DNA from a zoo animal and a specimen collected in 1898 to complete the genome mapping.
- The genetic data will help manage bilby populations in zoos, sanctuaries, and the wild.
- Indigenous rangers are combining traditional knowledge with new genetic tools to monitor and protect bilbies.
- The research highlights the bilby's unique biology, including its sense of smell and adaptation to arid environments.