How do mammalian germ cells transition from mitosis to meiosis? This project aims to determine how germ cells are regulated in the mammalian embryo. Germ cells go on to form the sperm and eggs and are, therefore, critical for reproduction. In particular, this project expects to generate new knowledge about the process of meiosis, a cellular process that is specific to the germ cells. Expected outcomes will inform efforts to control fertility and infertility in livestock, humans and other mammali ....How do mammalian germ cells transition from mitosis to meiosis? This project aims to determine how germ cells are regulated in the mammalian embryo. Germ cells go on to form the sperm and eggs and are, therefore, critical for reproduction. In particular, this project expects to generate new knowledge about the process of meiosis, a cellular process that is specific to the germ cells. Expected outcomes will inform efforts to control fertility and infertility in livestock, humans and other mammalian animals (e.g. pets and endangered species). They are also likely to inform the discipline of stem cell biology in general.Read moreRead less
Mobile DNA activity in the mammalian primordial germline. Early in pregnancy, a handful of cells in the embryo become primordial germ cells (PGCs). These PGCs will eventually give rise to sperm or egg cells, representing a critical inter-generational genetic link. Mobile DNA sequences target PGCs to create new heritable genetic changes. This proposal aims to analyse the activity, regulation, and consequences of mobile DNA activity in PGCs. This project expects to generate significant knowledge a ....Mobile DNA activity in the mammalian primordial germline. Early in pregnancy, a handful of cells in the embryo become primordial germ cells (PGCs). These PGCs will eventually give rise to sperm or egg cells, representing a critical inter-generational genetic link. Mobile DNA sequences target PGCs to create new heritable genetic changes. This proposal aims to analyse the activity, regulation, and consequences of mobile DNA activity in PGCs. This project expects to generate significant knowledge about the origins of mammalian genetic diversity. Expected outcomes include enhanced national and international collaborations across disciplines and new experimental systems. The expected benefit is an enhanced understanding of the mutational processes underlying genetic diversity and disease in mammals.Read moreRead less
Investigating a novel factor impacting stem cell development. This project aims to investigate how stem cells are controlled during animal development, by exploring how a specific protein, essential for embryonic development, controls cell fate decisions during the early stages of life. This project expects to generate new knowledge in stem cell biology, embryonic development, and general mechanisms controlling cell fates, using innovative approaches in gene editing and high-throughput imaging. ....Investigating a novel factor impacting stem cell development. This project aims to investigate how stem cells are controlled during animal development, by exploring how a specific protein, essential for embryonic development, controls cell fate decisions during the early stages of life. This project expects to generate new knowledge in stem cell biology, embryonic development, and general mechanisms controlling cell fates, using innovative approaches in gene editing and high-throughput imaging. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced capacity for fundamental stem cell biology in Australia. This should provide significant benefits, such as training of young Australian researchers in frontier technologies, and new knowledge in fundamental aspects of life, including embryonic development.Read moreRead less
Foundations of a good egg: correctly transitioning from mitosis to meiosis. Production of viable offspring is essential to the survival of any species. In all sexually reproducing species, this requires a unique cell type, the germ cell. Germ cells undergo a special type of cell division, called meiosis, so that they can eventually produce gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females). This project aims to discover how germ cells halt the standard form of cell division, called mitosis, and initia ....Foundations of a good egg: correctly transitioning from mitosis to meiosis. Production of viable offspring is essential to the survival of any species. In all sexually reproducing species, this requires a unique cell type, the germ cell. Germ cells undergo a special type of cell division, called meiosis, so that they can eventually produce gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females). This project aims to discover how germ cells halt the standard form of cell division, called mitosis, and initiate meiotic division instead. It is important to understand all the fundamental processes that occur during normal germ cell development so that, in the future, we can use this knowledge to support agricultural advances, rescue endangered species and solve human problems such as infertility and genetic disease.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms that control the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA mutations. How do humans and other organisms prevent the accumulation of dangerous mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations across generations? This Project aims to uncover the cellular and molecular pathways that help prevent the inheritance of mtDNA mutations to offspring by employing cutting-edge genetic technologies that the laboratory has recently developed in the germline of an animal model system. This Project will generate new kn ....Mechanisms that control the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA mutations. How do humans and other organisms prevent the accumulation of dangerous mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations across generations? This Project aims to uncover the cellular and molecular pathways that help prevent the inheritance of mtDNA mutations to offspring by employing cutting-edge genetic technologies that the laboratory has recently developed in the germline of an animal model system. This Project will generate new knowledge in the area of mitochondrial genetics and evolution. Expected outcomes include the development of new theories for mtDNA inheritance, which should provide significant benefits for agricultural breeding programs and the interpretation of mtDNA inheritance patterns in the human population.Read moreRead less
Genetic regulation of avian sex determination. This project aims to enhance our understanding of gonadal sex determination (testis versus ovary development), using innovative genetic approaches that exploit the avian embryo as a model system. The project aims to define the key molecular events regulating gonadal sex determination in birds. It intends to enhance knowledge in the area of cell biology, embryology, and sex determination specifically. Importantly, it will have application to the poul ....Genetic regulation of avian sex determination. This project aims to enhance our understanding of gonadal sex determination (testis versus ovary development), using innovative genetic approaches that exploit the avian embryo as a model system. The project aims to define the key molecular events regulating gonadal sex determination in birds. It intends to enhance knowledge in the area of cell biology, embryology, and sex determination specifically. Importantly, it will have application to the poultry industry. Currently, half of all hatchlings (the undesired sex) are culled. The proposed project intends to illuminate those genetic pathways that can be targeted to produce single-sex lines of birds, a major goal of the multi-billion dollar Australian and global poultry industries.Read moreRead less
Genetic networks regulating gene silencing by intronic repeat expansions . Changes in the copy number of DNA repeats are associated with phenotypic variations in several species. Expansions of DNA repeats underlie several human genetic diseases, including Friedreich’s ataxia. The molecular mechanisms that mediate these genetic abnormalities are currently unclear. This project aims to identify the novel genetic pathways and mechanisms mediating these genetic disorders. Using a plant model in an .... Genetic networks regulating gene silencing by intronic repeat expansions . Changes in the copy number of DNA repeats are associated with phenotypic variations in several species. Expansions of DNA repeats underlie several human genetic diseases, including Friedreich’s ataxia. The molecular mechanisms that mediate these genetic abnormalities are currently unclear. This project aims to identify the novel genetic pathways and mechanisms mediating these genetic disorders. Using a plant model in an innovative way this project will discover novel genes, uncover fundamental molecular mechanisms and reveal the genetic networks that govern gene silencing caused by triplet repeat expansions. This project, in addition to revealing fundamental biological mechanisms, will also have implications for human disease.
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New insights into female reproductive tract formation and tubulogenesis. Aims: This project aims to improve our understanding of female reproductive tract formation by studying its developmental origins. Most of the female reproductive tract derives from a pair of embryonic tubes called Müllerian ducts, the formation of which is incompletely understood. Significance: Using chicken and mouse models and innovative genetic approaches, the project will undercover novel genes and cellular pathways in ....New insights into female reproductive tract formation and tubulogenesis. Aims: This project aims to improve our understanding of female reproductive tract formation by studying its developmental origins. Most of the female reproductive tract derives from a pair of embryonic tubes called Müllerian ducts, the formation of which is incompletely understood. Significance: Using chicken and mouse models and innovative genetic approaches, the project will undercover novel genes and cellular pathways in Müllerian duct formation. Expected outcomes: This work will enhance knowledge in the biological sciences, in the area of female reproduction and how tubes form in biological systems. Benefits: It will train research scientists, develop collaborations and enhance Australia’s high standing in the field of reproduction.Read moreRead less
Ancestral, conserved and novel mechanisms in marsupial genomic imprinting. Genomic imprinting is the differential expression pattern of some genes depending on whether the gene copy came from the mother or the father. This differential expression is essential for embryonic development and errors lead to disease. To date, most of our knowledge of the control of genomic imprinting comes from the mouse, but much less is known about this process in marsupials. Our comparative approach, using marsupi ....Ancestral, conserved and novel mechanisms in marsupial genomic imprinting. Genomic imprinting is the differential expression pattern of some genes depending on whether the gene copy came from the mother or the father. This differential expression is essential for embryonic development and errors lead to disease. To date, most of our knowledge of the control of genomic imprinting comes from the mouse, but much less is known about this process in marsupials. Our comparative approach, using marsupial mammals that are distantly related to mice and humans, aims to clarify how genomic imprinting mechanisms have evolved, which patterns are conserved across mammals, and which vary. Our proposed research aims to provide new approaches and understanding of this fundamental process essential for the continuation of life.
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