SCRC: Masters M3.1 Nutritional Genomics And Its Application To Aquaculture (Prof Abigail Elizur; Student Linda Moss)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
The project aims to address the question: Can different aquaculture diets be assessed and evaluated by examining the expression profiles on known (or newly discovered) candidate genes that are responsible for, or associated with, the digestion and absorption of diet components.
Nutrition is a key significant consideration in aquaculture operations and absorption of molecular components of feed is the main factor contributing to nutrition in fish. An innovative alternative to feed trials ....The project aims to address the question: Can different aquaculture diets be assessed and evaluated by examining the expression profiles on known (or newly discovered) candidate genes that are responsible for, or associated with, the digestion and absorption of diet components.
Nutrition is a key significant consideration in aquaculture operations and absorption of molecular components of feed is the main factor contributing to nutrition in fish. An innovative alternative to feed trials is the use of nutritional genomics, where the specific response to the various diet at a gene expression level can potentially predict the quality of the diet and its suitabilty for optimum aquaculture use.
Candidate genes for such studies include genes associated with the digestion and absorption of nutrients i.e. trypsin, aminopeptidase, bile salt-activated lipase, insulin, glucagon and cholecstokinin. This project is expected to also lead to the discovery of a novel suite of genes whose expression is diet dependant, leading to the discovery of suitable markers for diet effectiveness, reducing the necessity and costs of feed trials.
The research done during the project is expected to greatly enhance our knowledge of the molecular processes with feed digestion, absorption and feed development, thus not only offereing an attractive testing alternative to diet development, but also explore the animal's response to different diets.Read moreRead less
Stock Identification And Discrimination Of Commercially Important Whitings (Teleostii; Sillaginidae) In Australian Waters Using Genetic Criteria [later Sillago Maculata And S. Bassensis Were Added]
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. To investigate the population structure of the commercially important whitings, Sillago ciliata, S. maculata, S. robusta, S. bassensis and Sillagonides punctatus, using allozymes detected by electrophoresis as genetic markers. NSW, Vic, Tas, SA
Regulation Of Haemopoietic And Immune Cells In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$19,924,984.00
Summary
This Program brings together a team of researchers with world-class multidisciplinary skills in biomedical discovery and an established track record of clinical and commercial translation of research discoveries. This Program will result in the creation of new knowledge regarding the control of blood and immune cell production and function and provide new avenues for the treatment of people suffering from cancers of the blood, inflammatory and immune disorders.
BCA: Identification Of A Y-chromosome Marker In Atlantic Salmon (extension To FRDC 95/80)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$5,272.01
Summary
Genetic variation The results we have obtained in the current project are encouraging for SALTAS, as they confirm the earlier allozyme results of little loss of genetic variation. However, the results are also suggestive of a potential long term trend in loss of genetic variation. A sample collected and analysed in January 1997 (1993 year-class parents) would provide evidence to substantiate this trend or indicate whether the current results were a sampling artifact. The analysis of a 1997 ....Genetic variation The results we have obtained in the current project are encouraging for SALTAS, as they confirm the earlier allozyme results of little loss of genetic variation. However, the results are also suggestive of a potential long term trend in loss of genetic variation. A sample collected and analysed in January 1997 (1993 year-class parents) would provide evidence to substantiate this trend or indicate whether the current results were a sampling artifact. The analysis of a 1997 sample would be the second of a proposed regular 4 to 5 year assessment of the status of the Tasmanian stock, and would help to describe the nature and speed of any long term trends.
SALTAS, as the principal Atlantic salmon hatchery in Australia, has a long term requirement to maintain industry and investor confidence in their product, and the ability to confirm the reliability of its breeding practices is important for the sustainability of the industry.
Loss of genetic variation in a cultured population will provide an early indicator of potential inbreeding, which could have grave consequences as deleterious recessive genes are exposed and stocks lose vigour dependent on genetic variance. Any loss of genetic variation in Tasmanian Atlantic salmon could be difficult or impossible to recover due to the restrictions on importation of new broodstock.
Y-chromosome marker A number of molecular genetic techniques for trait or marker screening have been developed since the original proposal was submitted. We propose to apply some of these new techniques to the screening of Atlantic salmon DNA for a potential Y-chromosome marker. These approaches will greatly increase our chances of finding such a marker.
The new techniques we propose include: Representational Difference Analysis (RDA); PCR-Select cDNA Subtraction Technique; the application of other modified subtractive hybridization and differential display techniques that have proved useful in other species; AFLP (amplified fragment polymorphism) technique; and the application of a number of commercial RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) primers.
We have also established contact, and will collaborate during the proposed project extension, with workers who have a Y-chromosome marker for brook trout and arctic char, and other workers in this field working with other teleosts.
We believe that a continuation of the current project (95/80) is the best approach to further tackle this Y-chromosome marker issue. It will allow us to best utilise the expertise and momentum we have established on this problem, rather than completed our current objectives and then revisit this issue in a year or two.
If we are successful in locating a Y-chromosome marker either during the remainder of the current schedule or early in the 1997 grant extension, resources will then be directed to isolate and further characterize that marker. Objectives: 1. To locate a Y-chromosome marker in Atlantic salmon by applying a range of molecular genetic techniques. 2. To establish the rate of change in genetic variation in Tasmanian Atlantic salmon by comparing the genetic (microsatellite and allozyme) variation expressed in progeny from 1993 year-class parents with that present in 1989 year-class parents and the parental Nova Scotia population. Read moreRead less
Applications Of Molecular Biology To Management Of The Abalone Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$28,850.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To apply modern molecular biology techniques to identifying the genetic composition and structure of blacklip abalone populations. 2. To tranfer the results of techniques that best identify abalone populations to abalone fishery managers. 3. To utilise the techniques developed to identify abalone populations in enforcement situations.
Application Of Molecular Genetics To The Australian Abalone Fisheries: Forensic Protocols For Species Identification And Blacklip Stock Structure
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$353,888.00
Summary
The state of molecular genetic technology in abalone is underdeveloped and in need of some basic research to develop molecular protocols that can be applied to various management and compliance issues; microsatellite markers are likely to have the most utility, and other abalone fisheries will benefit from Australian research (Sweijd 1997 - External review FRDC 98/126).
Abalone populations elsewhere in the world have crashed catastrophically. Australian abalone resources are in a relat ....The state of molecular genetic technology in abalone is underdeveloped and in need of some basic research to develop molecular protocols that can be applied to various management and compliance issues; microsatellite markers are likely to have the most utility, and other abalone fisheries will benefit from Australian research (Sweijd 1997 - External review FRDC 98/126).
Abalone populations elsewhere in the world have crashed catastrophically. Australian abalone resources are in a relatively good condition, but are under heavy pressure from many external factors, including poaching, that could cause irreversible damage. In addition, some sections of the industry are excited by the potential of translocation or reseeding for stock enhancement, but without fully understanding the genetic variability in a population this represents a high conservation risk. Understanding genetic variation in abalone at both the species and stock level is vital to the long-term sustainability of these valuable fisheries, as well as for genetic conservation.
Compliance is not only a major issue in the draft 1998 review of wild abalone R&D needs in Australia, but is also an international issue. There are currently no forensic tools available in Australia to assist authorities identify abalone products and force compliance.
The application of molecular genetics in this study will provide managers with: • forensic tests for species identification • estimation of rates of gene flow between selected locations (i.e. stock identification).
Stock identification is needed not only for managing the commercial and recreational catch, but also for assessing the risks of translocation and reseeding projects, and land-based or sea-based aquaculture industries.
This study will build on a pilot project that developed the basis for an abalone forensic protocol, and will also provide a comprehensive assessment of the use of microsatellite markers for abalone stock identification. These goals are of both national and international interest. Objectives: 1. To refine, and where necessary establish, abalone species identification protocols to forensic standards suitable for required fisheries compliance. 2. To define the stock structure of blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) around Tasmania, using polymorphic nuclear DNA microsatellite markers. 3. To determine a suitable sampling and analysis regime for other temperate Australian abalone fisheries. 4. To determine the possible effects of harvesting on the genetic conservation of the blacklip abalone (H. rubra), by comparing the allozyme variation of two areas of the Tasmanian fishery with results obtained from the same areas in the late 1980s. Read moreRead less
SCRC: PDRS: Use Of Next Generation DNA Technologies For Revealing The Genetic Impact Of Fisheries Restocking And Ranching
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Several initiatives by the Australian Seafood CRC's Future Harvest theme involve some form of stocking or enhancement of fisheries. In WA, populations of Roe's Abalone are currently being restocked after a catastrophic mortality event, while stock enhancement of Greenlip Abalone is also occurring. The CRC is also supporting translocation of Southern Rocklobster and ranching of Sea Cucumbers. In all such cases there is a need to understand the population genetic dynamics of stocked populations an ....Several initiatives by the Australian Seafood CRC's Future Harvest theme involve some form of stocking or enhancement of fisheries. In WA, populations of Roe's Abalone are currently being restocked after a catastrophic mortality event, while stock enhancement of Greenlip Abalone is also occurring. The CRC is also supporting translocation of Southern Rocklobster and ranching of Sea Cucumbers. In all such cases there is a need to understand the population genetic dynamics of stocked populations and the extent of genetic interactions of stocked with wild populations (Flinders has been conducting his research for sea cucumbers using the traditional microsatellite marker approach in 2008/733). Important considerations are the genetic health of individuals used as breeders, genetic structuring of source populations, effective population size, effects on inbreeding or loss of genetic diversity, recruitment and geographic spread. Molecular markers can be used to investigate these effects and guide the stocking. Genomic technologies such as GBS are rapidly developing and becoming less expensive and more useful to apply than traditional genetic approaches. These new genomic techniques that directly genotype individuals using sequence information are extremely promising as they eliminate the need for species specific marker development and could provide an efficient and comprehensive means of studying genomes at an individual and population level. Importantly, contrary to traditional genetic methods such as microsatellite surveys, new genomic techniques such as GBS might provide ways of disclosing functional genetic variation (variation that is ecologically relevant and related to the fitness of the individual) or facilitating genomic selection. Once GBS data is mapped to areas of the genome with known function, marker assisted selection for traits of importance to aquaculture becomes possible. Here we propose engaging a post-doc that will specialise in this area and assist projects with Flinders involvement on Roe's and Greenlip Abalone in Western Australia.Read moreRead less