Discovering sex determining genes in a reptile with genetic and environmental sex determination. Reptile sex determination is particularly fascinating because it is triggered either by genes on sex chromosomes or by the nest temperature. This project will identify and characterise candidate sex determining genes in a model reptile to understand how genes control sexual differentiation and how they interact with temperature.
Resolving insect evolution. Our poor understanding of the evolution of insects, life’s most successful group, is a huge gap in our knowledge of nature. By analysing genomic data the project will resolve the insect evolutionary tree and discover what drove insect evolution. This will expand our knowledge of how evolution works - a vital part of conserving our biological diversity.
Development of population-level algorithms for modelling genomic variation and its impact on cellular function in animals and plants. The purpose of this project is to develop mathematical and computational tools which will enable researchers to model high-throughput biological data at the population level. These models will be used to uncover the effect that genetic variation has on the physiology of the cell and the organism.
The adaptive evolution of key methane-utilising microorganisms. This project aims to characterise the evolutionary adaptations of a group of microorganisms with a key role in mitigating the release of methane into the atmosphere. Innovative molecular and visualisation-based approaches will be applied to uncover their metabolic diversity and evolutionary history. An important outcome of this study will be the comprehensive understanding of the contribution and impact these microorganisms have on ....The adaptive evolution of key methane-utilising microorganisms. This project aims to characterise the evolutionary adaptations of a group of microorganisms with a key role in mitigating the release of methane into the atmosphere. Innovative molecular and visualisation-based approaches will be applied to uncover their metabolic diversity and evolutionary history. An important outcome of this study will be the comprehensive understanding of the contribution and impact these microorganisms have on the global carbon cycle, which will importantly inform accurate climate change models. This has clear benefits for society, given the precision of such models is essential in our ability to minimise the impact and associated cost of global warming.Read moreRead less
Uncovering new microbial players and processes in the global methane cycle. This project aims to utilise multiple analytical strategies (including metagenomics and metatranscriptomics) to substantially expand our understanding of the key microorganisms, metabolic strategies, and interspecies relationships involved in the formation and consumption of methane. The global methane cycle is controlled by microorganisms that produce and consume this important greenhouse gas, however it is now recognis ....Uncovering new microbial players and processes in the global methane cycle. This project aims to utilise multiple analytical strategies (including metagenomics and metatranscriptomics) to substantially expand our understanding of the key microorganisms, metabolic strategies, and interspecies relationships involved in the formation and consumption of methane. The global methane cycle is controlled by microorganisms that produce and consume this important greenhouse gas, however it is now recognised that there are many as-yet undiscovered methane-metabolising microorganisms in the environment. The project will lead to a greater understanding of the contribution of these novel microorganisms to global carbon cycling and their links to climate change. This will directly benefit modelling efforts to understand future climate change scenarios.Read moreRead less
Coral-associated viruses: pathogens, mutualists and agents of evolution? Corals host numerous organisms, of which viruses are the least studied. The aim of this project is to characterise the viruses associated with corals and to obtain a detailed understanding of the critical roles that viruses play in coral health, coral bleaching and adaptation of corals to climate change.
Archaeal dark matter and the origin of eukaryotes. This project aims to investigate the highly controversial origin of eukaryotes and thus all multicellular life within Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms. Resolving eukaryotic origins has long been hampered by an inability to cultivate archaea from the environment. This project aims to develop a novel high-throughput single-cell genomics approach to recover archaeal genomes, thus bypassing the cultivation step. The genomes will con ....Archaeal dark matter and the origin of eukaryotes. This project aims to investigate the highly controversial origin of eukaryotes and thus all multicellular life within Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms. Resolving eukaryotic origins has long been hampered by an inability to cultivate archaea from the environment. This project aims to develop a novel high-throughput single-cell genomics approach to recover archaeal genomes, thus bypassing the cultivation step. The genomes will contribute to a comprehensive taxonomic framework which will facilitate the evaluation of evolutionary relationships between the eukaryotic and archaeal domains. This may uncover previously unknown archaea with novel metabolic capabilities.Read moreRead less
Genomic Control of Human Complex Trait Variation. This project aims to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genetic and environmental control of complex human trait variation. This project will use innovative approaches that combine molecular genomic information with data from large biobank sized cohorts to generate new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying ancestral and sex differences in humans. Expected outcomes include the development of novel methods for the integrative analy ....Genomic Control of Human Complex Trait Variation. This project aims to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genetic and environmental control of complex human trait variation. This project will use innovative approaches that combine molecular genomic information with data from large biobank sized cohorts to generate new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying ancestral and sex differences in humans. Expected outcomes include the development of novel methods for the integrative analysis of genomic data and building Australia’s capacity in a highly demanded field, ensuring the capability to realise the translation of this knowledge to positively impact society and human well-being.Read moreRead less
MOLECULAR APPROACHES TO OVERCOME SCABIES AND ASSOCIATED DISEASE. Scabies causes childhood pyoderma predisposing to severe disease in later life. It is a major increasing health burden in Indigenous people of Northern Australia. Drug resistance is developing in mites and bacteria. The lack of clinical material has hampered molecular research and this work will use comparative genomics of parasitic and free living mites and microbiome analysis to understand fundamental aspects of mite biology and ....MOLECULAR APPROACHES TO OVERCOME SCABIES AND ASSOCIATED DISEASE. Scabies causes childhood pyoderma predisposing to severe disease in later life. It is a major increasing health burden in Indigenous people of Northern Australia. Drug resistance is developing in mites and bacteria. The lack of clinical material has hampered molecular research and this work will use comparative genomics of parasitic and free living mites and microbiome analysis to understand fundamental aspects of mite biology and pathogenesis. The understanding of proteins that are essential for mite survival and interfere with host defences will allow the informed design of peptide inhibitors as a new strategy to develop alternative treatment options.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Black Box of Archaeal Methane Metabolism. This project aims to build on new discoveries about how ancient microorganisms belonging to the Archaea that process methane, a significant greenhouse gas. This project expects to generate new data about how these novel Archaea are able to generate/digest methane and other non-methane carbon substrates through metabolic pathways using an interdisciplinary approach. Expected outcomes of this Project include improved techniques to grow these ....Exploring the Black Box of Archaeal Methane Metabolism. This project aims to build on new discoveries about how ancient microorganisms belonging to the Archaea that process methane, a significant greenhouse gas. This project expects to generate new data about how these novel Archaea are able to generate/digest methane and other non-methane carbon substrates through metabolic pathways using an interdisciplinary approach. Expected outcomes of this Project include improved techniques to grow these ancient microorganisms, investigate how they process methane, and understand how they contribute to the global carbon cycle. This will provide significant benefits, such as understanding the how the cycling of methane and non-methane compounds by novel Archaea can be manipulated in anaerobic environments.Read moreRead less