International scientists, working with the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney and Deakin University, have unlocked more than 90% of the Australian cane toad’s DNA code.
These poisonous toads have wreaked havoc since they were introduced in Queensland in 1935 to help control cane beetles; millions of toads now occupy more than 1.2 million square kilometres of Australia.
This discovery may be the answer to controlling the amphibian. Virologist Professor Peter White says despite the toad’s iconic status, there were major gaps in the scientistic community’s understanding of their genetic makeup. But now there is a blueprint for it.