Research into mapping platypus DNA at Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide University has uncovered a link between the sex chromosomes of platypuses and humans.

The research, which compares the DNA of different species, says platypuses’ reproductive DNA is similar to the part of human DNA which relates to ovarian cancer.

The RAH’s associate professor Martin Oehler, a gynaecological oncologist specialising in ovarian cancer treatment, and University genetic scientist professor Frank Grutzner said identifying this DNA could lead to the discovery of an early detection test and better treatment for ovarian cancer.

With no early detection test more than 75 per cent of cases of ovarian cancer are already advanced when discovered, with less than 40 per cent of SA women surviving five years after being diagnosed.

“Specific chromosomal areas and their genes have been found to be identical in platypus and humans,” Prof Oehler said.

“These genes are important regulators of normal development of the ovary – but they increase in number in people with ovarian cancer, so it is very likely that they are involved in the development of ovarian cancer.”

Prof Oehler said no one knew what ovarian cancer looked like in its early stages, making it difficult to detect.

“What we are trying to develop is a test that can identify the disease when the cancer is very small. This means what we are trying to detect would be at very small levels in the body.”

University genetic scientist professor Frank Grutzner said the mapping of the platypus genome has drawn attention to specific regions of the human genome.

He said where the DNA is sitting on the sex chromosome on platypus and where it is sitting on the human genome is similar.

"Through this we can trace the changes in DNA. Cancer can cause a lot of DNA to be amplified and a lot to be missing. The research helps narrow down and identify the region that we need to look at to understand the disease," Mr Grutzner said.

He said the research could also be applied in other reproductive areas including fertility and testicular cancer.