The evolution of dim light vision in vertebrates. High sensitivity (rod-based) vision has been extremely important for the survival and adaptive radiation of many vertebrates, including humans over evolutionary time. This multidisciplinary project will reveal the evolutionary and physiological constraints on early photoreception and the difficulties in operating over an enormous range of lighting conditions. Not only will the findings be crucial for our understanding of basic mechanisms of dim l ....The evolution of dim light vision in vertebrates. High sensitivity (rod-based) vision has been extremely important for the survival and adaptive radiation of many vertebrates, including humans over evolutionary time. This multidisciplinary project will reveal the evolutionary and physiological constraints on early photoreception and the difficulties in operating over an enormous range of lighting conditions. Not only will the findings be crucial for our understanding of basic mechanisms of dim light vision, but also provide potential insights into the physiological bases of various rod dystrophies affecting humans and the improved design of more sensitive cameras and safe light environments for rearing animals in captivity e.g. for aquaculture.Read moreRead less
Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals. Shells and skeletons are produced by a wide range of animals. These highly-order crystalline structures are genetically-encoded and produce high-performance composite materials that exceed present capabilities in human engineering. This international collaboration will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materi ....Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals. Shells and skeletons are produced by a wide range of animals. These highly-order crystalline structures are genetically-encoded and produce high-performance composite materials that exceed present capabilities in human engineering. This international collaboration will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materials for advanced electronics and energy transducers, human bone therapeutics and marine-based products such as pearls and cements, through the identification of genes underlying biofabrication networks and the development of in vitro bioproduction systems.Read moreRead less
The essence of being an animal: sponge allorecognition and the evolution of individuality. The human genome encodes the ability to recognise self from nonself at the cellular level. In medicine, this innate ability results in the rejection of transplanted (grafted) tissues from unrelated individuals. This project seeks to get to the evolutionary foundation of self-nonself recognition by studying this process in a simple and tractable model - a sponge from the Great Barrier Reef. Like humans, spo ....The essence of being an animal: sponge allorecognition and the evolution of individuality. The human genome encodes the ability to recognise self from nonself at the cellular level. In medicine, this innate ability results in the rejection of transplanted (grafted) tissues from unrelated individuals. This project seeks to get to the evolutionary foundation of self-nonself recognition by studying this process in a simple and tractable model - a sponge from the Great Barrier Reef. Like humans, sponges reject cells and tissues derived from another individual. By defining the genetic basis of self-recognition in sponges we reveal the antiquity of this system and the core features of histocompatibility and immunity. Such insights can inform a range of regenerative medical pursuits.Read moreRead less
The making of a sea shell: function and evolution of genes encoding calcareous architectures of phenomenal strength, purity and beauty. The mollusc shell is composed of microscopic layers of tabular calcium carbonate crystals and thin sheets of proteins with precise nanoscale architectures. This configuration produces a high-performance composite material that exceeds the present capabilities of human engineering. This integrated study will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fab ....The making of a sea shell: function and evolution of genes encoding calcareous architectures of phenomenal strength, purity and beauty. The mollusc shell is composed of microscopic layers of tabular calcium carbonate crystals and thin sheets of proteins with precise nanoscale architectures. This configuration produces a high-performance composite material that exceeds the present capabilities of human engineering. This integrated study will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materials for advanced electronics and energy transducers, human bone therapeutics and marine?based products such as pearls and cements, through the identification of genes underlying biofabrication networks and the development of in vitro bioproduction systems. Read moreRead less