FERTILIZATION IN VIVO AND IN VITRO IN AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS. Using reproductive technology previously undeveloped in Australian marsupials this study addresses the most significant question still unresolved in marsupial reproductive biology - 'How does fertilization occur?' We propose to investigate the morphological and functional characteristics of fertilisation and its roles in early development in marsupials, the uniqueness of these events and their evolutionary significance. These findings ....FERTILIZATION IN VIVO AND IN VITRO IN AUSTRALIAN MARSUPIALS. Using reproductive technology previously undeveloped in Australian marsupials this study addresses the most significant question still unresolved in marsupial reproductive biology - 'How does fertilization occur?' We propose to investigate the morphological and functional characteristics of fertilisation and its roles in early development in marsupials, the uniqueness of these events and their evolutionary significance. These findings will not only further our knowledge of reproduction in marsupials and shed light on the evolutionary factors underlying sperm and egg design but will provide tools for assisted breeding programs for threatened wildlife and for the regulation of over abundant species.Read moreRead less
Plasticity in placental vasculature and the evolution of viviparity in lizards. This cross-disciplinary research will provide thorough understanding of the reproductive physiology of animals with different forms of reproduction, information critical for conservation and management of Australia's biodiversity. Australia's unique reptiles provide the best animal system in the world for research in this area. Our research on maternal-embryonic interactions in this animal model has direct implicatio ....Plasticity in placental vasculature and the evolution of viviparity in lizards. This cross-disciplinary research will provide thorough understanding of the reproductive physiology of animals with different forms of reproduction, information critical for conservation and management of Australia's biodiversity. Australia's unique reptiles provide the best animal system in the world for research in this area. Our research on maternal-embryonic interactions in this animal model has direct implications for understanding some medical disorders, such as human angiogenic disorders. The research will strengthen ties internationally through research in South Africa, and provide training in combined biological and medical technologies. It will maintain Australia's long-term leadership in this area of research.Read moreRead less
Does testosterone produce duds or studs? A performance-based examination of the Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis. The evolutionary persistence of testosterone (T) as a vertebrate reproductive hormone is viewed as a double-edged sword. On the one hand T secretion is required for development and expression of appropriate reproductive functions. On the other hand T is known to suppress immune functions and is thus considered a liability to male health. We are examining an alternate hypothesis: ....Does testosterone produce duds or studs? A performance-based examination of the Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis. The evolutionary persistence of testosterone (T) as a vertebrate reproductive hormone is viewed as a double-edged sword. On the one hand T secretion is required for development and expression of appropriate reproductive functions. On the other hand T is known to suppress immune functions and is thus considered a liability to male health. We are examining an alternate hypothesis: that T-induced immunosuppression benefits breeding males by protecting their physical performance levels during immune challenge. We will examine this hypothesis by quantifying the interactive effects of T and immune challenge on the aerobic capacity of male birds.Read moreRead less
Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the env ....Stomatal function in transgenic plants with altered guard cell metabolism. Guard cells on the surface of leaves control the rate of water loss and CO2 uptake by changing stomatal aperture in response to environmental signals such light, CO2, humidity and water status. Guard cells therefore play a major role in determining plant productivity and water use efficiency. This project aims to examine the contribution of guard cell energy and carbon metabolism in mediating stomatal responses to the environment in intact plants through the generation and analysis of transgenic plants with altered guard cell function. This will aid in the development of strategies for direct manipulation of stomatal function.Read moreRead less
Evolution of viviparity in reptiles: the fundamental role of junctional complexes. This project utilises unique Australian reptile fauna to understand global questions in fundamental biology. We will discover basic biological information on native species, which will be important in future conservation of Australian ecosystems and animals and ultimately in helping to maintain Australia's biodiversity. The project also provides training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in ....Evolution of viviparity in reptiles: the fundamental role of junctional complexes. This project utilises unique Australian reptile fauna to understand global questions in fundamental biology. We will discover basic biological information on native species, which will be important in future conservation of Australian ecosystems and animals and ultimately in helping to maintain Australia's biodiversity. The project also provides training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in several different research methods that are widely applicable in the more general Australian workforce. Because the research work is genuinely cross-disciplinary research, its findings are applicable to both biological and medically oriented technologies.Read moreRead less
Uterodomes and the evolution of viviparity. We will test the hypothesis that uterodomes, which are cell structures unique to the early pregnant uterus in mammals, and the cellular changes accompanying their development, are essential to the evolution of viviparity in amniotes. The proposal stems from our recent discovery that uterodomes develop in the uteri of viviparous lizards as well as in mammals, suggesting key commonalities at the cellular level in the evolution of live birth across amnio ....Uterodomes and the evolution of viviparity. We will test the hypothesis that uterodomes, which are cell structures unique to the early pregnant uterus in mammals, and the cellular changes accompanying their development, are essential to the evolution of viviparity in amniotes. The proposal stems from our recent discovery that uterodomes develop in the uteri of viviparous lizards as well as in mammals, suggesting key commonalities at the cellular level in the evolution of live birth across amniote vertebrates. We will take advantage of the unique combination of placental types among Australian lizards, including a species with both oviparous and viviparous populations.Read moreRead less
Metabolomic and genetic approaches to the discovery of genes that direct carbon partitioning in plants. Plants make starch, sucrose, cell walls (fibre), oil, organic acids, vitamins and other products of great economic and social importance. The partitioning of carbon resources into such products determines crop productivity and quality. This partitioning is strongly influenced by nutrients, water and salinity. The powerful genomics resources of Arabidopsis including the new discipline of metabo ....Metabolomic and genetic approaches to the discovery of genes that direct carbon partitioning in plants. Plants make starch, sucrose, cell walls (fibre), oil, organic acids, vitamins and other products of great economic and social importance. The partitioning of carbon resources into such products determines crop productivity and quality. This partitioning is strongly influenced by nutrients, water and salinity. The powerful genomics resources of Arabidopsis including the new discipline of metabolomics, will be deployed to understand the regulation of carbon partitioning in leaves and to discover genes that direct partitioning. National research capability will be enhanced and new resources will be generated to breed crops with improved yield potential and product quality under varied environmental conditions.Read moreRead less
Evolution of sound localisation in vertebrates: head size, sound frequency and neural phase-locking. Hearing is our most important sense for interpersonal communication, yet we have a fragmentary understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in normal hearing. This project addresses the question of how sound location is represented in the brain through the processing of minute time difference with which sounds reach the two ears. The outcome will ultimately enable us to infer how the human brai ....Evolution of sound localisation in vertebrates: head size, sound frequency and neural phase-locking. Hearing is our most important sense for interpersonal communication, yet we have a fragmentary understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in normal hearing. This project addresses the question of how sound location is represented in the brain through the processing of minute time difference with which sounds reach the two ears. The outcome will ultimately enable us to infer how the human brain localises sound, with practical applications for improved virtual auditory realities and hearing aids.Read moreRead less
The basis of recognition and disposal of dysfunctional proteins by clusterin. When proteins become damaged they can precipitate. A blood protein called clusterin prevents precipitation of damaged proteins. Clusterin does this by forming complexes with the damaged proteins. Clusterin is the first blood protein known to do this. We will discover which parts of clusterin are responsible for this activity. We will also discover whether cells can take up and dispose of the complexes of clusterin and ....The basis of recognition and disposal of dysfunctional proteins by clusterin. When proteins become damaged they can precipitate. A blood protein called clusterin prevents precipitation of damaged proteins. Clusterin does this by forming complexes with the damaged proteins. Clusterin is the first blood protein known to do this. We will discover which parts of clusterin are responsible for this activity. We will also discover whether cells can take up and dispose of the complexes of clusterin and damaged proteins. This work is important because some diseases (eg, Alzheimers disease) involve the toxic effects of abnormal protein precipitation. Understanding how clusterin works may help in developing better treatments for these diseases.Read moreRead less
Re-balancing global resources: Manipulating toxic prussic acid (dhurrin) to improve nitrogen use efficiency in forage sorghum in a changing climate. Sorghum is grown widely is Australia and world-wide for forage, grain (mostly for animal feed) and biofuels. It grows well in dry areas. The problem is that the leaves contain a toxin that releases prussic acid (cyanide) that can reduce animal production or even kill stock feeding on it, especially when water stressed. The problem will get worse wit ....Re-balancing global resources: Manipulating toxic prussic acid (dhurrin) to improve nitrogen use efficiency in forage sorghum in a changing climate. Sorghum is grown widely is Australia and world-wide for forage, grain (mostly for animal feed) and biofuels. It grows well in dry areas. The problem is that the leaves contain a toxin that releases prussic acid (cyanide) that can reduce animal production or even kill stock feeding on it, especially when water stressed. The problem will get worse with climate change. Low-cyanide plants developed by us using non-GM methods grow fast, but accumulate nitrate instead which is also toxic. This is a waste of expensive fertiliser too. We aim to develop plants that divert resources to growth instead of toxins in order to reduce fertiliser use and help prepare for the future. The fast growing plants may also be useful as a biofuel crop.Read moreRead less