Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier positi ....Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier position of the Australian South Sea Pearl in the market, but also to move it further ahead. Knowledge of the genetics of pearl formation will advance a range of hatchery and farm practices, such as selective breeding and pearl grafting, which in turn can enhance farm-based operations and the remote communities that support them.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured Sou ....Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured South Sea Pearl through gaining a detailed understanding of how the oyster genetically controls pearl biofabrication - focusing on pearl colour, size and lustre. This information will identify pearl oysters that are a source of high-quality donor mantle tissue and that can be used in selective breeding programs.Read moreRead less
The role of dopamine in the regulation of worker sterility in the honey bee. This project will open new doors into the knowledge of honey bees' sterility. We will not only show that certain genes control honey bee sterility but also that there is interactions between these genes and environmental cues such as the pheromones released by the queen. The project will provide significant material for a better understanding of honey bees society. Honey bees remain the most important pollinator world w ....The role of dopamine in the regulation of worker sterility in the honey bee. This project will open new doors into the knowledge of honey bees' sterility. We will not only show that certain genes control honey bee sterility but also that there is interactions between these genes and environmental cues such as the pheromones released by the queen. The project will provide significant material for a better understanding of honey bees society. Honey bees remain the most important pollinator world wide, and their conservation is a major concern both to agriculturalists and the general public. The project will be of immense scientific interest, and likely to be regarded as a major breakthrough. The project will also foster a strong intellectual collaboration between New Zealand and Australia.Read moreRead less
Improved models to understand the genomic architecture of complex traits. This project aims to improve modelling of the genetics underlying complex traits. The project will develop and test models for using genome-wide genetic data to investigate how much heritability (genetic effect) underlies traits of interest, where it lies in the genome, and how much of it is shared across traits. The new models will be implemented in statistical algorithms in a freely-available software package. This proj ....Improved models to understand the genomic architecture of complex traits. This project aims to improve modelling of the genetics underlying complex traits. The project will develop and test models for using genome-wide genetic data to investigate how much heritability (genetic effect) underlies traits of interest, where it lies in the genome, and how much of it is shared across traits. The new models will be implemented in statistical algorithms in a freely-available software package. This project expects to increase understanding of biological mechanisms, the efficiency of genetic association analyses and the accuracy of genomic prediction, including the effects of interventions. The project will adapt human models to a wider range of organisms, in particular bacteria.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
Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide ....Targeting TGF-beta proteins to control animal reproduction. This project aims to develop a suite of novel biologics to control fertility in female mammals. This project expects to demonstrate that targeting a single class of ovarian proteins will enhance or inhibit egg production. The expected outcomes of this project are to (1) transform the breeding of livestock animals, which should provide significant benefits to the agricultural industry, through increased herd/flock sizes, and (2) provide a non-surgical method of contraception in companion/feral species, which should address the large unmet need for fertility control in these animals.
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Molecular basis of attenuation in live Mycoplasma vaccines. This proposal aims to use an innovative approach to address an urgent issue raised by the end users of an Australian-owned poultry vaccine with an extensive global market. Recently multiple mutations have been detected in the vaccine re-isolated from vaccinated birds in the field around the world. We will apply a combination of a novel technique for targeted mutagenesis, genome sequencing, and animal experimentations, to address the sig ....Molecular basis of attenuation in live Mycoplasma vaccines. This proposal aims to use an innovative approach to address an urgent issue raised by the end users of an Australian-owned poultry vaccine with an extensive global market. Recently multiple mutations have been detected in the vaccine re-isolated from vaccinated birds in the field around the world. We will apply a combination of a novel technique for targeted mutagenesis, genome sequencing, and animal experimentations, to address the significance of these mutations. Results will improve our understanding of the basis of attenuation of the vaccine, its mechanism of action, and provide commercial confidence in the safety of the vaccine, which is needed to support Australian Universities and Businesses, and the global poultry industry.Read moreRead less
Battle of the sexes: can surroundings differentially affect male and female mammalian preimplantation embryos. Equality between the sexes is an issue even at conception. The environment surrounding the embryo can bias the development of one sex over another. This project will assist in the understanding of how male and female embryos differ and will improve assisted reproductive technologies for domestic animal breeding programs, endangered animal conservation and human infertility treatment.
Measuring pain in livestock: mechanisms, objective biomarkers and treatments. This project aims to create an objective blood test to measure pain in livestock, and to create a new drug treatment for persistent pain by targeting the immunology of the brain and spinal cord. This project expects to generate new knowledge of the involvement of the neuro-immune system in the creation and maintenance of persistent pain and how this can be quantified through the innovative use of peripheral blood tests ....Measuring pain in livestock: mechanisms, objective biomarkers and treatments. This project aims to create an objective blood test to measure pain in livestock, and to create a new drug treatment for persistent pain by targeting the immunology of the brain and spinal cord. This project expects to generate new knowledge of the involvement of the neuro-immune system in the creation and maintenance of persistent pain and how this can be quantified through the innovative use of peripheral blood tests. Expected outcomes of this project include a blood test capable of quantifying the extent of current pain experience, and a cumulative life measure of pain an animal has experienced. This should provide significant benefits to the Australian livestock industry by improving best practice.Read moreRead less
Breeding for the future - Alpaca genetics. The Australian alpaca industry is recognised as an international leader. Alpaca fleece provides an annual national economic benefit of $1 million and has enormous potential for growth. This project will use a novel molecular mapping approach to generate a genetic test for desirable Suri fleece - the single biggest factor in developing a purebreeding suri line whilst retaining variation in other traits and avoiding inbreeding. This will quickly increase ....Breeding for the future - Alpaca genetics. The Australian alpaca industry is recognised as an international leader. Alpaca fleece provides an annual national economic benefit of $1 million and has enormous potential for growth. This project will use a novel molecular mapping approach to generate a genetic test for desirable Suri fleece - the single biggest factor in developing a purebreeding suri line whilst retaining variation in other traits and avoiding inbreeding. This will quickly increase the industry value, providing opportunity for rural communities to diversify farming enterprises and maximise income, and offering further employment in regional areas. This project will ensure Australian breeders retain a competitive edge in the face of alpaca research beginning in the USA. Read moreRead less