Predicting the evolutionary dynamics of adaptation. This project aims to address the question of how we can predict adaptive evolution. The project aims to probe the limits of evolutionary predictions by using a model system of bacterial populations that adapt to the presence of multiple stressors. This will be combined with high-throughput fitness measurements, whole genome sequencing and computer simulations. Anticipated outcomes include novel insights into deep questions regarding the structu ....Predicting the evolutionary dynamics of adaptation. This project aims to address the question of how we can predict adaptive evolution. The project aims to probe the limits of evolutionary predictions by using a model system of bacterial populations that adapt to the presence of multiple stressors. This will be combined with high-throughput fitness measurements, whole genome sequencing and computer simulations. Anticipated outcomes include novel insights into deep questions regarding the structure of fitness landscapes and the repeatability, predictability and contingency of adaptive evolution. The project is expected to provide significant benefits, informing the development of improved strategies for managing pathogen resistance to antimicrobial drugs.Read moreRead less
Evolution and role of neo-sex chromosomes in mitonuclear co-evolution. This project aims to characterize the evolution of novel, extended sex chromosomes in an Australian bird, then elucidate their role in climate-associated adaptive evolution. The species falls into two lineages bearing distinct mitochondrial genomes and nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes carried on sex chromosomes. The project aims to test whether this extraordinary genome arrangement is splitting the species into two forms: ....Evolution and role of neo-sex chromosomes in mitonuclear co-evolution. This project aims to characterize the evolution of novel, extended sex chromosomes in an Australian bird, then elucidate their role in climate-associated adaptive evolution. The species falls into two lineages bearing distinct mitochondrial genomes and nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes carried on sex chromosomes. The project aims to test whether this extraordinary genome arrangement is splitting the species into two forms: one adapted to hotter, drier environments, one to milder ones. This would be tackled using an innovative combination of genomics, cytogenetics, and metabolic data. Understanding the mechanisms at play would represent a major advance in ecology and evolution, with potential implications for conservation management.Read moreRead less
Can mitochondrial and nuclear co-evolution drive climate adaptation? This project aims to reveal whether co-evolution between the mitochondrial genome of a wild bird and partner nuclear genes is causing the species to split into two forms, one adapted to inland environments and one to coastal conditions. Mitochondrial-nuclear co-evolution has great potential to illuminate new modes of climate adaptation and lineage divergence. This understanding will provide significant benefits, with implicatio ....Can mitochondrial and nuclear co-evolution drive climate adaptation? This project aims to reveal whether co-evolution between the mitochondrial genome of a wild bird and partner nuclear genes is causing the species to split into two forms, one adapted to inland environments and one to coastal conditions. Mitochondrial-nuclear co-evolution has great potential to illuminate new modes of climate adaptation and lineage divergence. This understanding will provide significant benefits, with implications for conservation management.Read moreRead less
Diet, gut microbiota and the evolution of lifespan and reproduction. Nutrition has pronounced effects on lifespan and reproduction across animal species, yet how these effects are mediated is poorly understood. This project aims to determine if the gut microbiota regulates these nutritional effects. This project expects to deliver key insights on the complex interplay between nutrition and the gut microbiota, as well as the potential to manipulate this relationship to extend lifespan and alter r ....Diet, gut microbiota and the evolution of lifespan and reproduction. Nutrition has pronounced effects on lifespan and reproduction across animal species, yet how these effects are mediated is poorly understood. This project aims to determine if the gut microbiota regulates these nutritional effects. This project expects to deliver key insights on the complex interplay between nutrition and the gut microbiota, as well as the potential to manipulate this relationship to extend lifespan and alter reproduction. The expected outcomes of this project include generating new knowledge, building multidisciplinary collaborations and the development of novel experimental approaches. This should provide significant benefits, fore-most in bolstering Australia’s high international standing in evolutionary research. Read moreRead less
Adaptation to life in the dark: genomic analyses of blind beetles. This project aims to utilise a unique Australian model system based on multiple, independently-evolved subterranean water beetles to explore the adaptive and regressive changes in the genome that occur when surface species colonise subterranean habitats. This project focuses on the evolution of Heat Shock protein (Hsp) genes that play critical roles in adaptation to environmental stress and the process of de-canalisation, the rel ....Adaptation to life in the dark: genomic analyses of blind beetles. This project aims to utilise a unique Australian model system based on multiple, independently-evolved subterranean water beetles to explore the adaptive and regressive changes in the genome that occur when surface species colonise subterranean habitats. This project focuses on the evolution of Heat Shock protein (Hsp) genes that play critical roles in adaptation to environmental stress and the process of de-canalisation, the release of cryptic genetic variation that can allow novel morphologies to evolve in new environments. The project expects to provide further understanding of how species may potentially adapt to environmental stresses in the future, including climate change.Read moreRead less
Conservation genomics of a critically endangered insect. This project aims to develop tools genotyping large animal genomes, focusing on the case of the Lord Howe Island stick insect, once thought to be extinct and now critically endangered. This project expects to generate molecular tools to monitor the genetic health the insect which has a large, complex and poorly understood genome. Expected outcomes include the development of a preservation and reintroduction strategy for the insect. This pr ....Conservation genomics of a critically endangered insect. This project aims to develop tools genotyping large animal genomes, focusing on the case of the Lord Howe Island stick insect, once thought to be extinct and now critically endangered. This project expects to generate molecular tools to monitor the genetic health the insect which has a large, complex and poorly understood genome. Expected outcomes include the development of a preservation and reintroduction strategy for the insect. This project will benefit ongoing conservation efforts, and is timely given the ongoing eradication of rats from Lord Howe Island where this species once lived. Read moreRead less
Unlocking the secrets of the mitochondrion. This project aims to determine the frequency and mechanisms by which male-harming mutations (those with negative effects limited to males) accrue within the mitochondrial DNA. Theory predicts maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA will lead to accumulation of these mutations, but the real-world implications of this theory are unknown. Leveraging an innovative approach, this project expects to generate new knowledge into the causes of sex differences ....Unlocking the secrets of the mitochondrion. This project aims to determine the frequency and mechanisms by which male-harming mutations (those with negative effects limited to males) accrue within the mitochondrial DNA. Theory predicts maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA will lead to accumulation of these mutations, but the real-world implications of this theory are unknown. Leveraging an innovative approach, this project expects to generate new knowledge into the causes of sex differences in physiology and health. Expected outcomes include insights that advance understanding of fundamental biological processes, and training of students. Expected benefits include strengthening of Australia’s research capacity, by setting the research agenda in this rapidly developing field.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101235
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,500.00
Summary
Encounters with hominins: the history of human arrival in Sahul. This project aims to provide a detailed understanding on the remarkably complex encounters between archaic and modern human populations in Island Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia during the Pleistocene. The project plans to provide the largest collection of human genetic diversity from this vast geographical region and significantly advance current knowledge on one of the most intriguing questions in human evolution. These ....Encounters with hominins: the history of human arrival in Sahul. This project aims to provide a detailed understanding on the remarkably complex encounters between archaic and modern human populations in Island Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia during the Pleistocene. The project plans to provide the largest collection of human genetic diversity from this vast geographical region and significantly advance current knowledge on one of the most intriguing questions in human evolution. These insights are expected to bring important social and cultural benefits for Australia by unveiling the singularly deep genetic history of Aboriginal Australians, including their ancient connection to indigenous communities from Indonesia and New Guinea that extends back to when people first arrived in Australia.
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The nature of standing genetic variation. This project aims to expand understanding of the genetic variation underlying phenotypic differences among individuals. The nature of genetic variation has broad consequences across biology, from the detection of causal genetic variants to the adaptation of natural populations. This project will take a novel experimental approach to test several long-standing assumptions about the effects of new mutations on individual traits and their joint pleiotropic ....The nature of standing genetic variation. This project aims to expand understanding of the genetic variation underlying phenotypic differences among individuals. The nature of genetic variation has broad consequences across biology, from the detection of causal genetic variants to the adaptation of natural populations. This project will take a novel experimental approach to test several long-standing assumptions about the effects of new mutations on individual traits and their joint pleiotropic effect on fitness. By expanding our understanding of how mutation, selection and drift interact, this project could provide significant improvements in our understanding of the genetic basis of phenotypes, and our ability to predict phenotypic evolution.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100466
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,647.00
Summary
Mito-nuclear coevolution as an engine of biodiversity. This project aims to advance understanding of the processes that drive speciation and generate biodiversity. It will use Australia’s native social bees to test whether genetic diversity in mitochondrial genomes drives biodiversity at the population level, combining molecular and field studies in this uniquely tractable natural system. The expected outcome is a significant advance in knowledge of how coevolution between the two genomes of euk ....Mito-nuclear coevolution as an engine of biodiversity. This project aims to advance understanding of the processes that drive speciation and generate biodiversity. It will use Australia’s native social bees to test whether genetic diversity in mitochondrial genomes drives biodiversity at the population level, combining molecular and field studies in this uniquely tractable natural system. The expected outcome is a significant advance in knowledge of how coevolution between the two genomes of eukaryotic cells - mitochondrial and nuclear - affect the observable diversity of the natural world. The project is also expected to benefit the management and conservation of Australian native bees, which are vital pollinators in our natural and agro-ecosystems. Read moreRead less