Understanding the evolution of the alternation of generations in the land plant life cycle. This project will investigate the genetic basis and evolution of the land plant life cycle, in which both haploid and diploid phases consist of complex multicellular bodies. The project's findings, which will be made using two model laboratory plants, will be applicable to all plants and will help understand important processes such as pollen and seed production.
How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understandi ....How does timing affect mammalian brain development and evolution? This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the origin of diversity in mammalian brain circuits by studying development of marsupials and rodents. The expected outcome is to elucidate how differences in the timing, rate and sequence of development of gene expression, cell differentiation and circuit formation can relate to the origin of key evolutionary innovations in the mammalian brain. The significance of understanding the dynamics of developmental systems that shape complex brain traits includes establishing new developmental paradigms in evolutionary theory, generating new tools to investigate and manipulate brain gene expression in vivo, and the potential discovery of the causes of neurodevelopmental dysfunction.Read moreRead less
Environmental control of genetic/phenotypic interactions in lung development: An evolutionary perspective. Vertebrate lungs all contain morphologically and functionally similar lung lining cells. However, the cellular arrangement (i.e. lung morphology) and the function of the surfactant these cells produce, differs dramatically between species. Hence, a subset of highly conserved lung-specific genes coincides with spectacular phenotypic diversity. How has this diversity evolved? Do environmental ....Environmental control of genetic/phenotypic interactions in lung development: An evolutionary perspective. Vertebrate lungs all contain morphologically and functionally similar lung lining cells. However, the cellular arrangement (i.e. lung morphology) and the function of the surfactant these cells produce, differs dramatically between species. Hence, a subset of highly conserved lung-specific genes coincides with spectacular phenotypic diversity. How has this diversity evolved? Do environmental conditions, birth strategy or phylogenetic relationships determine lung phenotype? We will experimentally manipulate developing lungs and cells to demonstrate how environmental conditions (temperature, oxygen, lung-fluid regulation and neuro-hormonal input) promote evolutionary processes by altering gene expression, protein/lipid synthesis, cellular differentiation and hence lung morphology/function in animals with different birth strategies.Read moreRead less
Novel mechanisms integrating the central and autonomic nervous system. This project aims to define molecular mechanisms controlling the exquisite connectivity of neurons in different parts of the body. The ability of higher-vertebrates to respond to different environmental conditions is essential for life, evolution, health, reproduction and growth, and is reliant on the autonomic nervous system. However, how the autonomic nervous system is integrated with the central nervous system to control h ....Novel mechanisms integrating the central and autonomic nervous system. This project aims to define molecular mechanisms controlling the exquisite connectivity of neurons in different parts of the body. The ability of higher-vertebrates to respond to different environmental conditions is essential for life, evolution, health, reproduction and growth, and is reliant on the autonomic nervous system. However, how the autonomic nervous system is integrated with the central nervous system to control holistic physiological responses is largely unknown. By deciphering how neural networks are formed this project aims to provide broad biological insight to wiring of the entire nervous system which is likely to have significant implications for the formation of synthetic neural networks and for regeneration.Read moreRead less
Going with the flow: directing nutrient rich blood to the brain. This project aims to visualise and measure flow of blood from the umbilical cord to the fetal brain and to understand how delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain is prioritised by constriction or relaxation of a specialised shunt, the ductus venosus. The project will directly and non-invasively measure this fundamental phenomenon with novel MRI protocols. Expected outcomes of this project include advances in measuring fetal blo ....Going with the flow: directing nutrient rich blood to the brain. This project aims to visualise and measure flow of blood from the umbilical cord to the fetal brain and to understand how delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain is prioritised by constriction or relaxation of a specialised shunt, the ductus venosus. The project will directly and non-invasively measure this fundamental phenomenon with novel MRI protocols. Expected outcomes of this project include advances in measuring fetal blood flow and the exchange of expertise between leading researchers in Australia and Canada. In the long-term, this will enhance Australia’s research capacity in fetal physiology and may lead to new tools for monitoring or supporting fetal development.Read moreRead less
Opening and closing doors in the fetal circulation impacts brain metabolism. This project aims to measure blood flow from the umbilical cord through special shunts or doors to the fetal brain and to understand how changes in delivery of oxygen may impact fetal brain metabolism. This fundamental phenomenon will be measured with novel MRI protocols developed by a multidisciplinary, international team. Expected outcomes of this project include world-leading advances in measuring fetal blood flow ....Opening and closing doors in the fetal circulation impacts brain metabolism. This project aims to measure blood flow from the umbilical cord through special shunts or doors to the fetal brain and to understand how changes in delivery of oxygen may impact fetal brain metabolism. This fundamental phenomenon will be measured with novel MRI protocols developed by a multidisciplinary, international team. Expected outcomes of this project include world-leading advances in measuring fetal blood flow and brain metabolism with exchange of expertise between leading researchers in Australia and Canada and their trainees. In the long-term, this should provide significant benefits in enhancing Australia’s research capacity in fetal physiology and may lead to new tools for monitoring or supporting fetal development.Read moreRead less
Understanding Ageism in Australia. Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination towards people based on their age. This project aims to generate new knowledge in relation to older Australians’ experiences of ageism by conducting a population-based survey of ageism and examining its links with mental health and wellbeing. The project will also use intensive longitudinal methods to study everyday ageism. Expected outcomes include identification of at-risk groups that can be used to i ....Understanding Ageism in Australia. Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination towards people based on their age. This project aims to generate new knowledge in relation to older Australians’ experiences of ageism by conducting a population-based survey of ageism and examining its links with mental health and wellbeing. The project will also use intensive longitudinal methods to study everyday ageism. Expected outcomes include identification of at-risk groups that can be used to inform government policy responses to tackling ageism and will inform the development of interventions and education programs to reduce ageism in the community. This should provide significant benefits for social inclusion, intergenerational solidarity and economic participation Read moreRead less
Small is beautiful: Did gene-rich regions of mammal chromosomes evolve from microchromosomes? Most birds and reptile genomes feature many tiny microchromosomes. These are not junk, as previously thought, but contain most of the genes. Mammals lack microchromosomes, but contain gene-rich regions with similar attributes. We suggest that microchromosomes originated by genome duplication, and evolved into the gene-rich regions of mammalian chromosomes. We will test this hypothesis by comparing seque ....Small is beautiful: Did gene-rich regions of mammal chromosomes evolve from microchromosomes? Most birds and reptile genomes feature many tiny microchromosomes. These are not junk, as previously thought, but contain most of the genes. Mammals lack microchromosomes, but contain gene-rich regions with similar attributes. We suggest that microchromosomes originated by genome duplication, and evolved into the gene-rich regions of mammalian chromosomes. We will test this hypothesis by comparing sequences and genes in microchromosomes of birds, reptiles and monotremes. This will clarify the origin and evolution of the ?microgenome?, establish its suitability as a model for vertebrate genome organisation, and demonstrate whether microchromosomes are the ancestors of the gene-rich regions of mammalian chromosomes.Read moreRead less
Structural reorganization of the hymenopteran mitochondrial genome. This study will be the first detailed investigation of the evolution of mt genome reorganization, and as such it will identify the processes that shape the evolution of a molecule widely used to interpret phylogeny. A description of the processes that lead to mt genome reorganization will have a substantial impact on our understanding in two areas of mt biology; (1) the discovery of new molecular phenomena that impact on the or ....Structural reorganization of the hymenopteran mitochondrial genome. This study will be the first detailed investigation of the evolution of mt genome reorganization, and as such it will identify the processes that shape the evolution of a molecule widely used to interpret phylogeny. A description of the processes that lead to mt genome reorganization will have a substantial impact on our understanding in two areas of mt biology; (1) the discovery of new molecular phenomena that impact on the organization and evolution of this genome, and (2) the interpretation of its phylogenetic content. It will establish our research group as a leader in the field of evolutionary genetics. Training of high quality students, with exposure to international researchers, will be a significant component of this program.Read moreRead less
Establishment of the endocrine axes in the embryo and their xenobiotic distortion. Millions of tons of supposedly harmless chemicals are produced and enter the environment each year. However, some of these substances can act on wildlife and humans to distort the way that hormone systems are established in the embryo, leading to subtle effects on health and function in later life. We will use one of the commonest of these substances, found in many cosmetics, food wrappings, and medicinal plastics ....Establishment of the endocrine axes in the embryo and their xenobiotic distortion. Millions of tons of supposedly harmless chemicals are produced and enter the environment each year. However, some of these substances can act on wildlife and humans to distort the way that hormone systems are established in the embryo, leading to subtle effects on health and function in later life. We will use one of the commonest of these substances, found in many cosmetics, food wrappings, and medicinal plastics, to learn how hormone systems becomes established in a healthy embryo, and how these then get distorted after exposure to these compounds. This project directly addresses the way we assess the health of our environment, and offers ways to screen for compounds which can have subtle effects on wildlife, domestic species and humans.Read moreRead less