Cellular determinants of retrotransposition. This project aims to understand the processes that control retrotransposition in a genome. Transposable elements make up more than 50% of human genomes. The accumulation of retrotransposons through millions of years of evolution has shaped the genomes of all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Researchers have elucidated mechanisms the host uses to defend the genome against insertional mutagenesis by retrotransposons, but the cellular machinery an ....Cellular determinants of retrotransposition. This project aims to understand the processes that control retrotransposition in a genome. Transposable elements make up more than 50% of human genomes. The accumulation of retrotransposons through millions of years of evolution has shaped the genomes of all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Researchers have elucidated mechanisms the host uses to defend the genome against insertional mutagenesis by retrotransposons, but the cellular machinery and genomic environments needed for retrotransposition are undefined. This project aims to use models to uncover the mechanisms that control retrotransposition. This is expected to reveal more about human origins.Read moreRead less
Evolution and function of fragmented animal mitochondrial genomes. This project will reveal why animal mitochondrial genomes are in pieces, and how fragmented mitochondrial genomes evolve and function. This project will discover whether or not fragmented mitochondrial genomes have functional advantages. Knowledge generated from this project will lead to new approaches to mitochondrial genetic diseases in humans.
Black Death Genomics And The Evolution Of Pathogen Virulence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$525,412.00
Summary
The Black Death was one of the most lethal plagues of antiquity and changed the course of human history. We will reconstruct and analyse the evolution of its causative agent – the bacterium Yersinia pestis – sampled from human skeletal remains dating back to the Black Death and beyond. We will determine the mutations that changed the virulence of plague epidemics through time, enabling a unique insight into the most dramatic example of pathogen emergence that has ever been available for study.
Using Metagenomics To Determine The Causative Agent(s) Of Tick-Borne Disease In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$639,428.00
Summary
Tick-borne disease has emerged as a topical and controversial public health problem in Australia. We will employ state-of-the-art techniques in metagenomics to determine what microbial species (bacteria, viruses and eukaryotes) circulate in Australian ticks and whether these or different microbes are also present in humans diagnosed with tick-borne disease. The data generated will provide key information on whether tick-borne disease has a microbiological cause and, if so, the microbes involved.
Silencing the X chromosome: why and how. The project aims to understand why we have X chromosome inactivation, and examine the fundamental molecular mechanisms of how it is achieved. The project will explore RNA-mediated epigenetic modification of whole chromosomes with innovative molecular methods in placental mammals, and also iconic Australian mammals, to transform our understanding of X chromosome inactivation. Further understanding whole chromosome silencing, will inform future research int ....Silencing the X chromosome: why and how. The project aims to understand why we have X chromosome inactivation, and examine the fundamental molecular mechanisms of how it is achieved. The project will explore RNA-mediated epigenetic modification of whole chromosomes with innovative molecular methods in placental mammals, and also iconic Australian mammals, to transform our understanding of X chromosome inactivation. Further understanding whole chromosome silencing, will inform future research into potential therapies for chromosomal trisomies.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL110100044
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,001,626.00
Summary
Origin, evolution and roles of cardinal genomic features underpinning animal multicellular complexity. As the first genome project from our oceans, the sea sponge Amphimedon heralds a new era of marine science for Australia. Using post-genomic approaches, this project will show how studying marine organisms can produce the most fundamental insights into not only multicellular life but also into human diseases and cancer that originally evolved from our oceans.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101117
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,000.00
Summary
The functional impact of new genes acquired through retrotransposition. Novel copies of genes often arise through retrotransposition of processed messenger RNAs. Many thousands of gene copies have arisen over evolutionary time and some of these have retained functionality while diverging from the parental gene leading to new paralogs under different regulatory regimes. Through analysis of whole-genome sequence data, we are now able to identify very recent gene copies that are not present in the ....The functional impact of new genes acquired through retrotransposition. Novel copies of genes often arise through retrotransposition of processed messenger RNAs. Many thousands of gene copies have arisen over evolutionary time and some of these have retained functionality while diverging from the parental gene leading to new paralogs under different regulatory regimes. Through analysis of whole-genome sequence data, we are now able to identify very recent gene copies that are not present in the reference genomes for various species, giving us the opportunity to explore the effects of new copies on the regulation of the original gene and the surrounding genomic environment into which the new copy is inserted. This project aims to address these important open questions through computational and biochemical approaches.Read moreRead less
Engineering improved and multifunctional gene editing systems. Advances in genome editing have enabled the targeted modulation of gene expression in cells and provided new tools for biotechnology. This project will combine computational design and genetic selection to deliver the next generation of precision gene editing tools. These new technologies can be used for modification of genes in any cellular compartment and will be useful for understanding and improving energy metabolism. Increased c ....Engineering improved and multifunctional gene editing systems. Advances in genome editing have enabled the targeted modulation of gene expression in cells and provided new tools for biotechnology. This project will combine computational design and genetic selection to deliver the next generation of precision gene editing tools. These new technologies can be used for modification of genes in any cellular compartment and will be useful for understanding and improving energy metabolism. Increased cellular energy production can be harnessed to make valuable biological products, with unprecedented efficiency.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100031
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,000.00
Summary
PacBio long read sequencer for the Ramaciotti Genomics Consortium of NSW. PacBio long read sequencer for the Ramaciotti Genomics Consortium of New South Wales: This will be one of the first PacBio sequencers for a service facility in Australia. Unlike other next-generation sequencers that have read lengths of 100 to 700 bases, the PacBio long read sequencer generates an average read length of 8,000 bases and a maximum of 20,000 bases. It will be used for research in genomics, metagenomics and tr ....PacBio long read sequencer for the Ramaciotti Genomics Consortium of NSW. PacBio long read sequencer for the Ramaciotti Genomics Consortium of New South Wales: This will be one of the first PacBio sequencers for a service facility in Australia. Unlike other next-generation sequencers that have read lengths of 100 to 700 bases, the PacBio long read sequencer generates an average read length of 8,000 bases and a maximum of 20,000 bases. It will be used for research in genomics, metagenomics and transcriptomics.Read moreRead less