Evolution and functional impact of gene silencing by hairpin derived RNAs. This project aims to study RNA-mediated gene silencing in genome evolution. RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely used as an experimental tool since its Nobel Prize-winning discovery in 1998, but little is known about endogenous RNAi or its evolution. This project uses bioinformatics, high-throughput sequencing and molecular approaches to study hpRNAs, a class of small interfering RNAs, their adaptive evolution across f ....Evolution and functional impact of gene silencing by hairpin derived RNAs. This project aims to study RNA-mediated gene silencing in genome evolution. RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely used as an experimental tool since its Nobel Prize-winning discovery in 1998, but little is known about endogenous RNAi or its evolution. This project uses bioinformatics, high-throughput sequencing and molecular approaches to study hpRNAs, a class of small interfering RNAs, their adaptive evolution across fly species and vertebrates, and their functional effect on testis morphogenesis and distortion of female/male sex-ratio. The project also studies splicing-dependent small RNAs and miRNA-target interaction. This research could have applications from animal development to human pathology.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101450
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,300.00
Summary
The molecular basis of division of labour in the beehive. This study will dissect the genes and gene networks underpinning behaviour using cutting edge molecular and computational techniques. As a model, this project will study the division of labour in a social insect, the honeybee.
How novel ribosomal RNA gene repeat variants drive cellular function. The hundreds of ribosomal RNA gene repeat copies are a remarkable part of our genomes, as they encode the machinery responsible for all cellular protein synthesis and shape the structure of the nucleus. However, due to their high degree of sequence similarity, they still have not been assembled into the human genome reference. This project will resolve this impasse and furthermore uncover the functional impacts of a newly iden ....How novel ribosomal RNA gene repeat variants drive cellular function. The hundreds of ribosomal RNA gene repeat copies are a remarkable part of our genomes, as they encode the machinery responsible for all cellular protein synthesis and shape the structure of the nucleus. However, due to their high degree of sequence similarity, they still have not been assembled into the human genome reference. This project will resolve this impasse and furthermore uncover the functional impacts of a newly identified molecular diversity in the ribosomal RNA gene repeats. Outcomes include new paradigms for how the ribosomal RNA gene repeats drive protein synthesis and genome structure, and a blueprint to develop novel genomics applications for human health, biotechnology, and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Understanding somatic mutation in plants: new methods, new software, new data. Somatic mutations accumulate as plants grow, affecting everything from short-term ecological interactions to long-term evolutionary dynamics. These mutations have important consequences for plant industry and conservation, but because they are so hard to measure almost nothing is known about them. This project aims to develop new methods and software to detect, analyse, and compare the genome-wide history of somatic m ....Understanding somatic mutation in plants: new methods, new software, new data. Somatic mutations accumulate as plants grow, affecting everything from short-term ecological interactions to long-term evolutionary dynamics. These mutations have important consequences for plant industry and conservation, but because they are so hard to measure almost nothing is known about them. This project aims to develop new methods and software to detect, analyse, and compare the genome-wide history of somatic mutation in individual plants, providing an unprecedented level of detail into an important but understudied source of biological variation. By applying these methods to an iconic experimental population, This project aims to provide the first insights into the genome-wide causes and consequences of somatic mutation in plants.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary analyses of short-read sequences from pooled samples. This project aims to provide biologists with a means of making sound, statistical inferences about evolution by using next-generation data from mixed samples. When biologists make statements about history, they use evolutionary trees, frequently reconstructed from the genetic data of many individuals. Next-generation sequencing provides large amounts of genetic data at low cost, but biologists have difficulty using these data for ....Evolutionary analyses of short-read sequences from pooled samples. This project aims to provide biologists with a means of making sound, statistical inferences about evolution by using next-generation data from mixed samples. When biologists make statements about history, they use evolutionary trees, frequently reconstructed from the genetic data of many individuals. Next-generation sequencing provides large amounts of genetic data at low cost, but biologists have difficulty using these data for evolutionary research, particularly when they sample mixtures of DNA from many individuals. The anticipated value of this project is that it allows evolutionary biologists to capitalise on the benefits of next-generation sequencing, without sacrificing their ability to make reliable inferences about history.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101127
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
An integrated statistical genetics framework for breeding superior wheat varieties. Genetic studies in agriculture are rapidly increasing in size and complexity in pursuit of genes behind desirable traits such as yield and water use efficiency. This project will address the need for efficient statistical methods to analyse genetic data and thus enable production of wheat varieties that will contribute to Australian food security.