Human genes in kangaroos' pouches

**Oisín** · 11-18-2008, 11:40 PM

Human genes in kangaroos' pouches

Shared ancestor with humans 150m years ago

Kangaroos are genetically similar to humans and may have first evolved in China, Australian researchers have said.

Scientists said they had for the first time mapped the genetic code of the Australian marsupials and found much of it was similar to the genome for humans, the government-backed Centre of Excellence for Kangaroo Genomics said.

'There are a few differences, we have a few more of this, a few less of that, but they are the same genes and a lot of them are in the same order,' centre Director Jenny Graves told reporters in Melbourne.

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**Nastrander** · 11-19-2008, 03:10 PM

It's my understanding that we share about 95% identical genes with our closest relative, the Orangutan.

Percentage of shared genetic material simply indicates degree of closeness on the evolutionary tree.

As usual, the article is anthrocentric, the topic of the article could just have easily been, humans discovered to have kangaroo genes

**Loki** · 11-19-2008, 03:16 PM

Basically, they imply kangaroos are related to primates.

We are all actually descended from fish who became terrestrial animals. Life started on the ocean floors, as aquatic organisms.

**Arrow Cross** · 11-19-2008, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Nastrander

It's my understanding that we share about 95% identical genes with our closest relative, the Orangutan.

Yet, it is completely impossible to create hybrids. Tolkien obviously wasn't a scientifical genious. ;D

**Vulpix** · 11-19-2008, 03:22 PM

Well, apparently we share 40-50% of our DNA with cabbages, and 50% with bananas

!

**Loki** · 11-19-2008, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Well, apparently we share 40-50% of our DNA with cabbages, and 50% with bananas

!

Not surprisingly, as all life on earth evolved from the same source.

I am one who do not think that life is an exclusively earthly occurrence. Lifeforms are likely to be found across the universe, in some or other form.

**Nastrander** · 11-19-2008, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Loki

Basically, they imply kangaroos are related to primates.

ALL mammals are more closely related to humans than kangaroos are, since kangaroos are marsupials, not true mammals. If anyone bothers to map the genes of mice, which according to the article branched off from the common lineage with us only 70 million years ago, they'd find far more identical genetic material.