Radical change in the architecture of a nucleus: loss of typical DNA organisation systems in dinoflagellates. The genetic blueprint of all higher cells is stored in the cell nucleus, and proteins called histones provide the filing system for compactly stacking and organising the cell's DNA. One group of organisms, the dinoflagellate algae, have lost this histone system. This project will provide insight into their alternative DNA management systems.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100723
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The inheritance of epigenetic information in mammals. This project aims to understand how biological information can be passed from one generation to the next without being encoded in the genes. This may explain questions as diverse as why twins look subtly different and why some families are more likely than others to suffer disease.
Is 'junk DNA' involved in gene editing in human cells. Exciting results suggest that non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), some of which emanate from regions in the human genome traditionally known as “junk DNA”, actually function to regulate protein-coding gene transcription. The goal of this project is to explore the role of ncRNAs on a genome-wide level to determine those proteins involved in this process and to what extent this process results in directed genome editing. Knowledge of the ncRNA pathways m ....Is 'junk DNA' involved in gene editing in human cells. Exciting results suggest that non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), some of which emanate from regions in the human genome traditionally known as “junk DNA”, actually function to regulate protein-coding gene transcription. The goal of this project is to explore the role of ncRNAs on a genome-wide level to determine those proteins involved in this process and to what extent this process results in directed genome editing. Knowledge of the ncRNA pathways may lead to a novel methodology to activate silenced genes as well as determine the role of ncRNAs in genome evolution.Read moreRead less
Exploiting Sexual Differences In Germline Biology To Resolve The Causes Of Germline Mutation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,914.00
Summary
Mutagenesis during the production of sex cells is a fundamental biological process and the cause of inherited human disorders. These disorders span the entire spectrum of diseases that have a genetic component, such as autoimmune diseases and cancers, therefore influencing all age groups. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this process is a priority since it is the essential knowledge required for understanding all of the factors that contribute to this array of debilitating dis ....Mutagenesis during the production of sex cells is a fundamental biological process and the cause of inherited human disorders. These disorders span the entire spectrum of diseases that have a genetic component, such as autoimmune diseases and cancers, therefore influencing all age groups. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this process is a priority since it is the essential knowledge required for understanding all of the factors that contribute to this array of debilitating diseases, and for devising effective preventative and diagnostic measures. To attain this understanding necessitates establishing the mechanistic origins of germline mutagenesis. Two basic approaches are employed to understand this process. The first assesses the incidence of mutation in pedigrees. This identifies the spectrum of risk mutations underlying the specific disease surveyed. Because other biological processes also influence these observations, the results from this approach do not reflect the underlying germline mutation spectra and are therefore not translatable between diseases. As mutations are rare events, it is prohibitive to obtain sufficient observations to resolve the underlying mechanisms. The second approach employs comparative genomic data, and uses differences in germline biology to estimate sex-biased effects. This comparative approach benefits from the accumulation of mutations over vast periods of time. The approach has not, however, been applied to diagnose the mechanistic origins of mutations. In this project, we will apply the enormous volume of comparative sequencing data to relate components of the mutagenic spectrum with sexual differences in germline biology. The project will differentiate between different types of mutations, and their association with specific processes will be established. The results will be a determination of the relative contributions of different mechanisms of mutation to germline mutagenesis.Read moreRead less
The role of RNA editing by the brain-specific enzym ADAR3 in learning and memory. Higher-order cognition sets us apart from other species but how this is achieved is still under debate. The project will test the idea, strongly supported by recent genomic analyses, that subtle changes in the sequences of RNA in response to environmental stimuli underpin this extraordinary ability.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102763
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The contribution of histone post-translational modifications to eukaryotic evolution. By comparing the complete DNA sequence of closely related species, it is possible to identify changes in DNA that account for the diversity between these species. The project will use this approach to ask whether DNA changes that influence how DNA itself is packaged into cells have contributed to the evolution of new yeast species.
Do chromosomal rearrangements drive genomic evolution and speciation? This project aims to gain an understanding of the processes driving speciation using the internationally recognised and uniquely Australian rock-wallaby model system, where speciation appears to be caught in the act. Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process, yet one that is not well understood. The project plans to use recent advances in marsupial genomics, bioinformatics, cytogenetics and epigenetics to determine the ....Do chromosomal rearrangements drive genomic evolution and speciation? This project aims to gain an understanding of the processes driving speciation using the internationally recognised and uniquely Australian rock-wallaby model system, where speciation appears to be caught in the act. Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process, yet one that is not well understood. The project plans to use recent advances in marsupial genomics, bioinformatics, cytogenetics and epigenetics to determine the role that chromosome rearrangements play in the speciation process. This may provide critical knowledge for understanding the process of speciation and for future decisions regarding the effective management of biodiversity.Read moreRead less