Heat regulation by the fibre types in muscle. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the fibre types that make up skeletal muscles regulate heat generation against other muscle function, to maintain core body temperature and the normal movement and posture of the mammal. Project outcomes include defining, for the first time, how heat generation in the muscles o ....Heat regulation by the fibre types in muscle. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the fibre types that make up skeletal muscles regulate heat generation against other muscle function, to maintain core body temperature and the normal movement and posture of the mammal. Project outcomes include defining, for the first time, how heat generation in the muscles of the body is regulated. This should provide critical knowledge of mammalian evolution and ways to manipulate metabolism, which may provide ways to assist with achieving a desired meat quality and yield in beef and other commercially important animals.Read moreRead less
Interrogating the extremes of skeletal muscle plasticity in vertebrates. This project aims to interrogate how muscles adapt to growth and endurance stimuli at different stages of life, relevant to addressing challenges facing the world’s ageing population. Using innovative gene technologies and molecular physiology in zebrafish and mice, this project will answer important, unresolved questions in muscle biology. The project will generate knowledge needed to develop interventions to improve quali ....Interrogating the extremes of skeletal muscle plasticity in vertebrates. This project aims to interrogate how muscles adapt to growth and endurance stimuli at different stages of life, relevant to addressing challenges facing the world’s ageing population. Using innovative gene technologies and molecular physiology in zebrafish and mice, this project will answer important, unresolved questions in muscle biology. The project will generate knowledge needed to develop interventions to improve quality of life for older Australians and address the physical realities of an ageing workforce. Benefits extend to enhancing workplace safety and productivity, improving farming efficiencies for livestock and aquaculture industries, and training emerging leaders in the biological sciences.Read moreRead less
Understanding specificity and flexibility in coral symbioses. This project aims to understand why some corals can switch algal partners while others remain faithful to a single strain. This is important because corals depend on their symbiotic algal partners for survival and because some algae provide greater resilience to environmental stress than others. This project will greatly enhance our understanding of the molecular and physiological factors governing flexibility and specificity in coral ....Understanding specificity and flexibility in coral symbioses. This project aims to understand why some corals can switch algal partners while others remain faithful to a single strain. This is important because corals depend on their symbiotic algal partners for survival and because some algae provide greater resilience to environmental stress than others. This project will greatly enhance our understanding of the molecular and physiological factors governing flexibility and specificity in coral-algal symbioses. It will provide much-needed knowledge required to identify associations most appropriate for specific conditions, prioritise populations for conservation, and assess the feasibility of new approaches to managing and restoring coral reefs.
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A novel approach in understanding regulation of development in mosquitoes. This project aims to explore the role of microRNAs in regulation of the synthesis of a key hormone, juvenile hormone, involved in mosquito development and reproductive maturation. The development of novel approaches in mosquito control or inhibition of transmission are urgently required to combat against mosquito-borne pathogens. One such approach is to interrupt the reproduction or reduce the fitness of mosquitoes. This ....A novel approach in understanding regulation of development in mosquitoes. This project aims to explore the role of microRNAs in regulation of the synthesis of a key hormone, juvenile hormone, involved in mosquito development and reproductive maturation. The development of novel approaches in mosquito control or inhibition of transmission are urgently required to combat against mosquito-borne pathogens. One such approach is to interrupt the reproduction or reduce the fitness of mosquitoes. This project will increase our understanding of the regulation of mosquito reproduction and development, but also lead to the discovery of potential target molecules to interfere with mosquito reproduction/development.Read moreRead less