Evolutionary venomics: Venom system diversification in the animal kingdom. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from the Australian toxic fauna. This will be achieved through the researcher's unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution has practical implications for the treatment of envenomations - an enormous problem in Australia - as well as great pot ....Evolutionary venomics: Venom system diversification in the animal kingdom. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from the Australian toxic fauna. This will be achieved through the researcher's unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution has practical implications for the treatment of envenomations - an enormous problem in Australia - as well as great potential in drug discovery and other commercial applications. This project will provide Australian graduate and post-graduate students with finely tuned skills in cutting edge methodological techniques and a fluent understanding of molecular evolution, preparing them to be internationally competitive scientists.Read moreRead less
Convergent Evolution of Desert Lizards: Phylogenomic and Morphological Analyses of Limb Development. Evolutionary convergence, where similar traits evolve independently in multiple lineages, is a fundamental biological process, which affects many aspects of an organism's morphology. Despite its importance we don't understand what underlies the convergence we observe in nature - does convergence in genetic make-up underlie convergence in morphology? We will investigate whether similar hindlimb mo ....Convergent Evolution of Desert Lizards: Phylogenomic and Morphological Analyses of Limb Development. Evolutionary convergence, where similar traits evolve independently in multiple lineages, is a fundamental biological process, which affects many aspects of an organism's morphology. Despite its importance we don't understand what underlies the convergence we observe in nature - does convergence in genetic make-up underlie convergence in morphology? We will investigate whether similar hindlimb morphologies are determined by the same genetic mechanisms in iguanian lizards of Australia and North America. Our study will be the first of its kind in vertebrates and will provide significant information about the evolutionary link between an animal's morphology and its genetic make-up.Read moreRead less
Sexual conflict in Zeus Bugs. Australia is a leading nation in the field of evolutionary biology. This is in part due to the diverse and often bizarre plants and animals found on this continent. Our preliminary work on the Australian Zeus bug yielded exciting and fascinating results that created considerable national and international interest within the biological community and among the general population. The proposed project is likely to attract similar attention; will contribute to undergra ....Sexual conflict in Zeus Bugs. Australia is a leading nation in the field of evolutionary biology. This is in part due to the diverse and often bizarre plants and animals found on this continent. Our preliminary work on the Australian Zeus bug yielded exciting and fascinating results that created considerable national and international interest within the biological community and among the general population. The proposed project is likely to attract similar attention; will contribute to undergraduate research training and will ensure that Australia maintains its high profile and international reputation in the future. Read moreRead less
Sexual conflict in the mitochondrion. Australia boasts an international reputation for scientific excellence, and this holds true for the field of evolutionary biology. This groundbreaking project will resolve an outstanding evolutionary conundrum, and integrate two major sets of theory to have witnessed recent paradigm shifts - sexual selection and mitochondrial evolutionary theory. By doing so, the project will push the field in new directions, promoting cutting-edge Australian science abroad. ....Sexual conflict in the mitochondrion. Australia boasts an international reputation for scientific excellence, and this holds true for the field of evolutionary biology. This groundbreaking project will resolve an outstanding evolutionary conundrum, and integrate two major sets of theory to have witnessed recent paradigm shifts - sexual selection and mitochondrial evolutionary theory. By doing so, the project will push the field in new directions, promoting cutting-edge Australian science abroad. This project promises educational benefits, by training postgraduate and honours students that are highly competitive in the international academic market. Finally, the project may yield novel insights into the genetics of male infertility, which affects five percent of Australian men.Read moreRead less
A high-through-put method for unlocking the mitochondrial genomes of significant pathogens. The national/community benefits of this research are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to ....A high-through-put method for unlocking the mitochondrial genomes of significant pathogens. The national/community benefits of this research are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by promoting collaborative research, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in a national and international context; (4) to enhance the skills-base in biology and biotechnology; and (5) to substantially increase global visibility through quality research, leading to an increased investment in Australian science.Read moreRead less
Breaking selective constraints: is Hsp90 a capacitor of evolutionary change? Gene action and expression can be modulated by genetic mechanisms. If a general mechanism controlling gene expression exists that can be easily manipulated it has the potential to allow animal and plant breeders to quickly produce and select for new characters of agricultural importance without relying on transgenics and long-term breeding programs. It would also assist in the development of tools for identifying and de ....Breaking selective constraints: is Hsp90 a capacitor of evolutionary change? Gene action and expression can be modulated by genetic mechanisms. If a general mechanism controlling gene expression exists that can be easily manipulated it has the potential to allow animal and plant breeders to quickly produce and select for new characters of agricultural importance without relying on transgenics and long-term breeding programs. It would also assist in the development of tools for identifying and detecting genes that increase susceptibility to human diseases, such as cancer, that are only expressed under certain conditions environmental. I intend to determine whether the protein Hsp90 represents a general mechanism controlling gene expression. Read moreRead less
Evolution, structure and function of key components in a molecular machine. The project will provide the basis for training of students and personnel in the previously recognized priority "Genomes-Phenomes", still the central theme of modern biology. In particular,
collaborations established with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico will transfer to Australia expertise in the cutting edge discipline of small angle scattering for analysis of biologically important molecules. Such tr ....Evolution, structure and function of key components in a molecular machine. The project will provide the basis for training of students and personnel in the previously recognized priority "Genomes-Phenomes", still the central theme of modern biology. In particular,
collaborations established with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico will transfer to Australia expertise in the cutting edge discipline of small angle scattering for analysis of biologically important molecules. Such training is essential for developing a future pool of skilled Australian scientists to staff and utilise the major national infrastructure developments represented by the Replacement Research Reactor and Australian Synchrotron, as outlined in the National Research Priority "Frontier Technologies".Read moreRead less
Investigating the subunit interactions of a molecular protein import machine. The project will provide fundamental knowledge of how sophisticated natural molecular machines interact with their substrates in plants and animals. It will also provide the basis for training of students and personnel in a range of structural biology technologies including several that are not commonly used by biologists, but make use of two major facilities that have been invested in by our government, namely the Aus ....Investigating the subunit interactions of a molecular protein import machine. The project will provide fundamental knowledge of how sophisticated natural molecular machines interact with their substrates in plants and animals. It will also provide the basis for training of students and personnel in a range of structural biology technologies including several that are not commonly used by biologists, but make use of two major facilities that have been invested in by our government, namely the Australian Synchrotron and the OPAL Research Reactor.Read moreRead less
Further Genetic and Molecular studies of an Important Prokaryotic Regulator Protein TyrR. Genomes encode many functions whose expression varies dramatically depending on particular cellular environments. Special proteins called Regulator Proteins act as sensors to detect subtle changes in the environment and, in response, to influence the expression of certain genes either dampening them down or stimulating their activity. We are working with the TyrR regulator protein of the simple bacterium E ....Further Genetic and Molecular studies of an Important Prokaryotic Regulator Protein TyrR. Genomes encode many functions whose expression varies dramatically depending on particular cellular environments. Special proteins called Regulator Proteins act as sensors to detect subtle changes in the environment and, in response, to influence the expression of certain genes either dampening them down or stimulating their activity. We are working with the TyrR regulator protein of the simple bacterium Escherichia coli to elucidate the molecular strategies used in these controls. Because this protein controls the expression of a number of genes with diverse functions, evolution has selected equally diverse mechanisms to achieve appropriate transcriptional responses. The detailed knowledge of the E.coli genome and of the various genes regulated by TyrR make it an excellent system for such fundamental studies.Read moreRead less
The success and rapid evolution of invasive species: resolving a genetic paradox. Invasive species have an enormous economic impact on trade, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and eco-tourism in Australia. In order to negate such detrimental impacts, integrated strategies need to be formulated to effectively control and eradicate introduced species. Our limited knowledge of the factors underlying the success of invasive species has hampered such efforts. A detailed understanding of the invasio ....The success and rapid evolution of invasive species: resolving a genetic paradox. Invasive species have an enormous economic impact on trade, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and eco-tourism in Australia. In order to negate such detrimental impacts, integrated strategies need to be formulated to effectively control and eradicate introduced species. Our limited knowledge of the factors underlying the success of invasive species has hampered such efforts. A detailed understanding of the invasion dynamics of introduced species is essential for identifying potential weaknesses that can be exploited in management strategies. My research will examine the invasion dynamics of a successful invasive species, the delicate skink, providing information directly relevant to the management of introduced species in Australia.Read moreRead less