Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100723
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The inheritance of epigenetic information in mammals. This project aims to understand how biological information can be passed from one generation to the next without being encoded in the genes. This may explain questions as diverse as why twins look subtly different and why some families are more likely than others to suffer disease.
Essential Roles Of RNA Polymerase II Transcription And DNA Damage Response Pathway In The Maintenance Of Centromere Chromatin Assembly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,224.00
Summary
A centromere is a region of DNA typically found near the middle of a chromosome where two identical sister chromatids come in contact. It is involved in cell division as the point of attachment to the mitotic spindle. Defective centromeres can result in genome instability, infertility and development of cancers. This work involves a study into how the identity of a centromere is maintained and inherited after each cell division. This has significant implication in the understanding of cell growt ....A centromere is a region of DNA typically found near the middle of a chromosome where two identical sister chromatids come in contact. It is involved in cell division as the point of attachment to the mitotic spindle. Defective centromeres can result in genome instability, infertility and development of cancers. This work involves a study into how the identity of a centromere is maintained and inherited after each cell division. This has significant implication in the understanding of cell growth and cancer development.Read moreRead less
Cell-type specific profiling of nascent RNA in the brain during learning. This project aims to understand cell-type specific, fast-acting, and dynamic patterns of RNA expression that arise during learning and contribute to the formation of memory. Activity-induced gene expression is central to neural plasticity, learning and memory. The project will apply a new approach, which tags RNA inside living cells. The findings will be broadly applicable and create new opportunities for understanding the ....Cell-type specific profiling of nascent RNA in the brain during learning. This project aims to understand cell-type specific, fast-acting, and dynamic patterns of RNA expression that arise during learning and contribute to the formation of memory. Activity-induced gene expression is central to neural plasticity, learning and memory. The project will apply a new approach, which tags RNA inside living cells. The findings will be broadly applicable and create new opportunities for understanding the true nature of brain adaptation.Read moreRead less
Multi-trait plasticity in response to a changing climate. This project aims to understand the effect of climate change on natural populations. Phenotypic plasticity (the ability to change phenotype with environment) determines natural populations’ immediate response to environmental change. However, studies of plasticity frequently rely on simplifying assumptions, and understanding the genomic and epigenomic mechanisms underlying plasticity is only just emerging. This project will combine a fine ....Multi-trait plasticity in response to a changing climate. This project aims to understand the effect of climate change on natural populations. Phenotypic plasticity (the ability to change phenotype with environment) determines natural populations’ immediate response to environmental change. However, studies of plasticity frequently rely on simplifying assumptions, and understanding the genomic and epigenomic mechanisms underlying plasticity is only just emerging. This project will combine a fine-scale temperature-manipulation experiment with genomic and multivariate statistical analyses of a native Australian alpine plant. The intended outcome is a comprehensive analysis of whether multi-trait phenotypic plasticity is adaptive; whether it can evolve; and the epigenomic mechanisms that drive it. The project will predict the likely effect of temperature change on alpine plants, and so generate information internationally relevant to the management of populations adapting to climate change and locally relevant to the conservation of Australian montane flora.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100624
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
The role of epigenetic modifications in tiger snake adaptation. This project aims to investigate mechanisms underlying animal adaptation to future environmental change by examining the molecular basis for phenotypic plasticity in snakes. This project will specifically examine variation in genetic/epigenetic profiles and compare against important fitness traits, such as variable head size, bite force and swallowing performance to identify relationships between molecular change and physiology. Suc ....The role of epigenetic modifications in tiger snake adaptation. This project aims to investigate mechanisms underlying animal adaptation to future environmental change by examining the molecular basis for phenotypic plasticity in snakes. This project will specifically examine variation in genetic/epigenetic profiles and compare against important fitness traits, such as variable head size, bite force and swallowing performance to identify relationships between molecular change and physiology. Such research is a critical first step in improving our knowledge of the mechanisms whereby animal populations may adapt to environmental change, allowing us to facilitate such processes or concentrate conservation effort where species are unable to adapt via epigenetic modification.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101206
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,536.00
Summary
Beyond genes: How the extended genotype of plants facilitates adaptation. Adaptation to environmental change is required for species to persist, however rapid environmental change may exceed the limits of traditional genetic adaptation leading to widespread decline. Recent work has highlighted the 'extended genotype' as an additional factor influencing adaptive phenotypes. This project aims to examine DNA methylation and polyploidisation as both a cause and consequence of the adaptation process ....Beyond genes: How the extended genotype of plants facilitates adaptation. Adaptation to environmental change is required for species to persist, however rapid environmental change may exceed the limits of traditional genetic adaptation leading to widespread decline. Recent work has highlighted the 'extended genotype' as an additional factor influencing adaptive phenotypes. This project aims to examine DNA methylation and polyploidisation as both a cause and consequence of the adaptation process using natural populations of the model cereal Brachypodium distachyon. The project aims to determine the architecture of these features and how their variability impacts adaptive traits such as flowering time. From the functional role of the extended genotype the project endeavours to predict and select genetic responses to the environment.Read moreRead less
Defining The Epigenetic Origins Of Maternally Inherited Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$731,162.00
Summary
Epigenetic (non genetic) changes to the DNA in sperm and eggs can alter outcomes in children. Despite the potential for drugs and diet to mediate some of these inherited effects, the processes involved are very poorly understood. By determining the mechanisms that regulate epigenetic inheritance, this project will improve our understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms acting in the parent, can mediate inherited disease and life-long health outcomes in our children.
The role of epigenetic modifications in bovid adaptation to environmental change. This project will explore the role of epigenetic change, where gene expression is regulated without changing the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence, in how animals adapt to rapid climate change. This project will trace epigenetic markers in ancient bison and cows through 30,000 years of climate change, and identify key adaptive genes for the cattle industry.
Epigenetics, environment, and evolution. This project will aim to understand how biological information can exist and be passed from one generation to the next without being encoded in the gene sequence, and also how our early environment can modify this so-called "epigenetic" information to alter disease risk.
The importance of DNA methylation in response to environmental changes. This project aims to investigate the importance of DNA methylation, a process whereby gene expression can be altered without changes in the DNA code, in regulating our responses to environmental challenges. It plans to do so using well-validated models of adult exposure to high fat diet or psychological stress in mice and tissue-specific (liver and brain) deletion of the major methylation enzymes. It aims to compare function ....The importance of DNA methylation in response to environmental changes. This project aims to investigate the importance of DNA methylation, a process whereby gene expression can be altered without changes in the DNA code, in regulating our responses to environmental challenges. It plans to do so using well-validated models of adult exposure to high fat diet or psychological stress in mice and tissue-specific (liver and brain) deletion of the major methylation enzymes. It aims to compare functional, gene expression and methylation status after such challenges in intact and methylase deleted animals to determine how vital this process really is. This work has major implications for our understanding of epigenetics, and the ways in which genes interact with the environment especially in times of change.Read moreRead less