Koalas survived a devastating population crash and their DNA is bouncing back
Science Daily
March 7, 2026
Koalas suffered a massive population decline that left them with dangerously low genetic diversity. However, new genomic research suggests their rapid rebound may be helping reverse some of that genetic damage. As koala numbers rise, recombination is mixing their remaining DNA into new combinations, which can rebuild functional diversity. The findings suggest that fast population recovery can sometimes help species regain lost evolutionary potential.
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Originally published on Science Daily on 3/7/2026