Characterising genetic variation in Brassica napus. Applying the latest scientific advances supports society through promoting a knowledge based economy, as well as through securing agricultural productivity and biomedical applications. Establishing these methods places Australia at the forefront of genomics technology with direct applications for Australian agricultural, biomedical and biotechnology industries. Maintaining agricultural production in an unreliable environment remains a national ....Characterising genetic variation in Brassica napus. Applying the latest scientific advances supports society through promoting a knowledge based economy, as well as through securing agricultural productivity and biomedical applications. Establishing these methods places Australia at the forefront of genomics technology with direct applications for Australian agricultural, biomedical and biotechnology industries. Maintaining agricultural production in an unreliable environment remains a national challenge, both for rural and urban communities. This technology will provide a detailed understanding of crop genome variation in relation to agronomic traits and lead to the development of crops that are better suited to the Australian climate, supporting a sustainable agricultural industry.Read moreRead less
Novel bioinformatics approaches for biological inference from comparative genomics data. Unlocking the potential of the human and other genome sequences depends almost entirely upon comparative genomics techniques. We will develop powerful bioinformatic models, implemented as high-performance computing solutions, for the examination of gene sequences. Improving these models, which represent the initial building block for all comparative genomics techniques, will be beneficial across genomics dep ....Novel bioinformatics approaches for biological inference from comparative genomics data. Unlocking the potential of the human and other genome sequences depends almost entirely upon comparative genomics techniques. We will develop powerful bioinformatic models, implemented as high-performance computing solutions, for the examination of gene sequences. Improving these models, which represent the initial building block for all comparative genomics techniques, will be beneficial across genomics dependent industries. A major outcome from this work will be an integrated software/hardware product optimised for statistical examination of very large-scale genomics data.Read moreRead less
Development of molecular markers for resistance to blackleg disease (Leptosphaeria maculans) in canola. Canola (Brassica napus) is a valuable oil seed crop grown in many parts of the world and contributes annually $A450 million to the Australian economy. The overall aim of this project is to develop molecular markers for blackleg resistance using Australian germplasm along with evaluation in Australian disease nurseries which are regarded worlwide to develop the highest levels of disease pressu ....Development of molecular markers for resistance to blackleg disease (Leptosphaeria maculans) in canola. Canola (Brassica napus) is a valuable oil seed crop grown in many parts of the world and contributes annually $A450 million to the Australian economy. The overall aim of this project is to develop molecular markers for blackleg resistance using Australian germplasm along with evaluation in Australian disease nurseries which are regarded worlwide to develop the highest levels of disease pressure. Once molecular marker systems are developed and evaluated, they will be applied to facilitate the selection of Nugrain's (Industry Partner) canola breeding programs. Any molecular markers and QTL developed for Australian cultivars would find commercial application in breeding programmes.Read moreRead less
Movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod, Maccullochella ikei Rowland. The project aims to quantify the movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei) at a larval, juvenile, adult and historical level. Most previous studies regarding the life-history of fish species have failed to adopt this holistic approach, with management often based on fragmented information. The project will also provide an ....Movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod, Maccullochella ikei Rowland. The project aims to quantify the movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei) at a larval, juvenile, adult and historical level. Most previous studies regarding the life-history of fish species have failed to adopt this holistic approach, with management often based on fragmented information. The project will also provide an insight into the biology of one of the most poorly understood coastal stream fishes of eastern-Australia and assist in ensuring the conservation of this endangered species, and offer a framework from which future studies into the life history of freshwater fish species worldwide can be based.Read moreRead less
Conservation genetics of the Endangered Oxleyan Pygmy Perch Nannoperca oxleyana. The aim of this study is to determine how isolation of populations of the endangered Oxleyan Pygmy Perch Nannoperca Oxleyana affects their genetic composition. The significance of the study is that it will enhance our ability to conserve the species, and enhance our understanding of the genetics of isolated populations of freshwater fish generally.
The multiplexed diagnosis of arbovirus infections using combinatorial probes. Viruses that cause serious diseases such as hemorrhagic fever or encephalitis must be quickly identified. Diagnostic tests based on DNA hybridisation are accurate and can be rapid but they are expensive. We will test a method for simplifying DNA tests and increasing their capabilities. DNA probes for detecting arboviruses will be designed at the ANU using new bioinformatic methods and their reliability will be model ....The multiplexed diagnosis of arbovirus infections using combinatorial probes. Viruses that cause serious diseases such as hemorrhagic fever or encephalitis must be quickly identified. Diagnostic tests based on DNA hybridisation are accurate and can be rapid but they are expensive. We will test a method for simplifying DNA tests and increasing their capabilities. DNA probes for detecting arboviruses will be designed at the ANU using new bioinformatic methods and their reliability will be modelled using all the available genetic information. Computer predictions will be experimentally tested in the PANBIO laboratory by using the probes to detect viral nucleic acids. The influence of virus genome complexity will be investigatedRead moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a ....Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a red blood cell line. Simultaneously, this project aims to generate fundamental insights into mechanisms of human gene regulation. The technological and biological outcomes of this project will be of benefit for future gene editing applications.Read moreRead less
Bayesian methodology for analysis of genome data with focus on the livestock industry. The aim is to develop statistical methods for the design and analysis of genome data with focus on the special needs of the livestock industry. This will significantly contribute to profitability, quality, genetic improvement and genetic knowledge in a key national industry, improve Australia's international and national profile in the key research area of bioinformatics, and encourage optimisation of current ....Bayesian methodology for analysis of genome data with focus on the livestock industry. The aim is to develop statistical methods for the design and analysis of genome data with focus on the special needs of the livestock industry. This will significantly contribute to profitability, quality, genetic improvement and genetic knowledge in a key national industry, improve Australia's international and national profile in the key research area of bioinformatics, and encourage optimisation of current information. Outcomes include a toolkit of applicable statistical methods, statistically valid algorithms, marketable methods for gene discovery, technology transfer, training and publications.Read moreRead less
Humane Chemical Methods for Population Management of Highly Valued Large Mammals. In many countries valued wild and feral animals are nonetheless too numerous. Their population numbers must be controlled through fertility. Examples are koalas in Australia, deer and seals in North America, cattle in India and dogs in Thailand. We aim to develop benign implants for castration based upon the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH). These implants are easily administered. The outcomes will be to ....Humane Chemical Methods for Population Management of Highly Valued Large Mammals. In many countries valued wild and feral animals are nonetheless too numerous. Their population numbers must be controlled through fertility. Examples are koalas in Australia, deer and seals in North America, cattle in India and dogs in Thailand. We aim to develop benign implants for castration based upon the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH). These implants are easily administered. The outcomes will be to protect Australia's ?green? image , worldwide market opportunities for the Australian companies involved in this application and valuable intellectual property for Macquarie. The methodology will in time allow us to apply it to the treatment of cancer.Read moreRead less
Brassica genome organisation and evolution: unlocking the potential of using genome-specific repetitive elements for crop improvement. Introgression of chromosome segments from related Brassica species provides an opportunity to develop locally adapted varieties with improved agronomic and quality traits. There is a need to understand Brassica genome organisation and how this information can be used for enhancing the efficiency of cultivar development. Dispersed and tandem repetitive DNA sequen ....Brassica genome organisation and evolution: unlocking the potential of using genome-specific repetitive elements for crop improvement. Introgression of chromosome segments from related Brassica species provides an opportunity to develop locally adapted varieties with improved agronomic and quality traits. There is a need to understand Brassica genome organisation and how this information can be used for enhancing the efficiency of cultivar development. Dispersed and tandem repetitive DNA sequences provide valuable information on the organisation and evolution of plant chromosomes. Methods for monitoring chromosome segment transfer across Brassica species will be developed based on detecting and quantifying genome-specific repetitive DNA sequences. Australian Brassica improvement programs could benefit from this research by adopting methods to detect chromosome segment transfer during interspecific hybridisation.Read moreRead less