The platypus may hold the key to the fight against cancer and a New Zealander is leading the research to find that cure.

Professor Neil Gemmell from Otago University has been involved in decoding the genome of the platypus. He says researchers have yet to identify a platypus with any form of tumour.

Professor Gemmell says if the Australian mammals have some special gene product that regulates against tumours it could be immensely useful to humans, as cancer is one of our biggest killers.

He says the platypus already shares 82 percent of its genes with humans.