"This scientific collaboration between the United States and
Australia represents another important step in our quest to gain
a better understanding of the human genome," said NHGRI Director
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. "As we build on the success of
the Human Genome Project, it has been increasingly clear that
one of the best tools for identifying crucial elements in the
human genome is to compare it with the genomes of a wide variety
of other animals." Comparing the human genome sequence with
those of other organisms, such as the roundworm, mouse or
kangaroo, enables scientists to identify regions of similarity
and difference that can provide clues about the structure and
function of genes vital to human health and development. The
type of kangaroo chosen for sequencing is the tammar wallaby
(Macropus eugenii), a relatively small member of the kangaroo
family found on islands along Australia's southern and western
coasts. Researchers are studying the tammar wallaby to gain
insights applicable to human re