The kangaroo last shared a common ancestor with humans 150 million years ago. "We've been surprised at how similar the genomes are," said Jenny Graves, director of the government-backed research effort. "Great chunks of the genome are virtually identical."
There are 20,000 genomes in the kangaroo - all of which are pretty much the same genes as in humans. "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.
It's probably not that surprising to learn that humans share 98% of our DNA with chimpanzees–but incredibly, we also share 70% with slugs and 50% with bananas.
Ever since researchers sequenced the chimp genome in 2005, they have known that humans share about 99% of our DNA with chimpanzees, making them our closest living relatives.
The kangaroo's closest relatives are wallabies and wallaroos, which are essentially smaller versions of kangaroos. Together they comprise the genus macropus, one of 11 genera in the taxonomic family macropodidae, which means "big feet" and references one of the universal features of marsupials in this category.
A study from the University of Sydney and the University of Roehampton in London suggests that kangaroos are capable of intentionally communicating with humans, suggesting a higher level of cognitive function than previously thought.
Chimpanzees
We share 99 percent of our DNA with chimpanzees, so it comes as no surprise that countless hours of research have been dedicated to understanding the intelligence and behavior of our sister species. This research has firmly established that chimps are one of the most intelligent species on earth.
Human and chimp DNA is so similar because the two species are so closely related. Humans, chimps and bonobos descended from a single ancestor species that lived six or seven million years ago.
Chimpanzee: 96 percent identical
By studying the genomes of chimps (which after bonobos are our closest living ancestors), researchers are hoping to understand what makes us uniquely human.
By virtue of being the same species, all humans share 99% of their genome, which means that all humans are 99% genetically similar. Our bodies are made up of 3 billion genetic building blocks, or base pairs. Of those 3 billion base pairs, only a tiny amount are unique to us.
About 60 percent of chicken genes correspond to a similar human gene. However, researchers uncovered more small sequence differences between corresponding pairs of chicken and human genes, which are 75 percent identical on average, than between rodent and human gene pairs, which are 88 percent identical on average.
Most of our DNA determines that we are human, rather than determining how we are different from any other person. So it is not so surprising that the DNA of any two human beings is 99.9 percent identical.
Humans and kangaroos last shared an ancestor at least 150 million years ago, the researchers found, while mice and humans diverged from one another only 70 million years ago. Kangaroos first evolved in China, but migrated across the Americas to Australia and Antarctica, they said.
About 15 million years ago, kangaroos started to appear. Their ancestors were opossum-like creatures that lived in the trees. Many types of species died out over time, but today, around 250 species of marsupial live in Australia. Over 50 of these are kangaroos.
Researchers at the University of Roehampton in Britain and the University of Sydney in Australia say that such behavior led them to a startling discovery: Kangaroos can communicate with humans similar to the way dogs, horses and goats do despite never having been domesticated.
Could we mate with other animals today? Probably not. Ethical considerations preclude definitive research on the subject, but it's safe to say that human DNA has become so different from that of other animals that interbreeding would likely be impossible.
Though pets' blood might not contain more dangerous pathogens found in humans such as HIV, Hep and Hep C, their blood could be dangerous to your health. Pets owners should avoid direct contact with pets' blood.
One of the world's rarest blood types is one named Rh-null. This blood type is distinct from Rh negative since it has none of the Rh antigens at all. There are less than 50 people who have this blood type. It is sometimes called “golden blood.”
CHIMPANZEES. RECKONED to be the most-intelligent animals on the planet, chimps can manipulate the environment and their surroundings to help themselves and their community.
Kangaroo rats, according to scientists, are the only animals that can exist without water. According to the findings, they do not have any water in their bodies for any of their digestive functions. Kangaroo rats can survive in deserts without ever drinking.
Unsurprisingly, chimpanzees are one of the most intelligent animals on this planet—next to humans, of course. Similar to how humans inherit their intelligence from their mother, a chimpanzee's intelligence also greatly relies on their genes.
Kangaroos have long memories and while they naturally avoid human contact and correctly regard humans as predators, they can maintain a long-lasting relationship over many years with their human carer if the care has been of the 'being-for' kind.
They appear to understand quite a few human words, they most certainly react to our tone of voice, and they can convey a range of emotions, including happiness, sadness, annoyance, embarrassment and guilt.
Humans are perceived as a possible threat
Most kangaroos are very fearful and flee as soon as a human approaches. However, there are few kangaroos that actively attack a human. The risk of a kangaroo attack can be significantly reduced by keeping a good distance from the animals. Kangaroos are not cuddly animals.