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
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
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
Recombination and the genomic landscape of speciation. This project aims to evaluate how genomes become different during the origin of species by utilising an innovative system where multiple replicates of the speciation process exist. This project expects to generate knowledge in the area of speciation genetics by exploring the effects of sex, migration and selection on the diversity of hundreds of genomes from an Australian wildflower. Expected outcomes of this project include a deeper underst ....Recombination and the genomic landscape of speciation. This project aims to evaluate how genomes become different during the origin of species by utilising an innovative system where multiple replicates of the speciation process exist. This project expects to generate knowledge in the area of speciation genetics by exploring the effects of sex, migration and selection on the diversity of hundreds of genomes from an Australian wildflower. Expected outcomes of this project include a deeper understanding of the maintenance of genetic diversity in natural populations, and development of a model organism for studying the genetics and ecology of speciation. This project should provide significant benefits including enhanced capacity in evolutionary genetics in Australia.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the impact of phenotypic plasticity on population persistence. This project aims to understand how environmental sensitivity in growth, survival and reproduction of individuals in a population influence population dynamics using terrestrial ectotherms. It will provide significant new insights into whether phenotypic plasticity promotes population persistence in the face of environmental change. Expected outcomes include approaches for incorporating environmental effects in population ....Quantifying the impact of phenotypic plasticity on population persistence. This project aims to understand how environmental sensitivity in growth, survival and reproduction of individuals in a population influence population dynamics using terrestrial ectotherms. It will provide significant new insights into whether phenotypic plasticity promotes population persistence in the face of environmental change. Expected outcomes include approaches for incorporating environmental effects in population models for threatened species, open databases that can be used to estimate demographic information for species lacking data, and an assessment of what characteristics make some species more sensitive to the environment than others. Benefits include quantitative training and tools for managing Australia's rich biodiversity.Read moreRead less
The role of genome reorganisation in adaptation and speciation. Local adaptation and speciation are fundamental evolutionary processes that rely on changes to the genome. However, the role of genome architecture (e.g. chromosomal rearrangements, gene duplications) in driving these processes is poorly understood. This project will use advanced comparative genomics and bioinformatics to examine the role of chromosome rearrangements in driving adaptation and speciation, and evaluate rates of molec ....The role of genome reorganisation in adaptation and speciation. Local adaptation and speciation are fundamental evolutionary processes that rely on changes to the genome. However, the role of genome architecture (e.g. chromosomal rearrangements, gene duplications) in driving these processes is poorly understood. This project will use advanced comparative genomics and bioinformatics to examine the role of chromosome rearrangements in driving adaptation and speciation, and evaluate rates of molecular evolution between the X-chromosome and autosomes. Utilising Australia’s endemic mammalian fauna as a tractable model system, I will link population processes with macro-evolutionary outcomes to show how genome architecture underpins biodiversity.Read moreRead less
Genomic vulnerability . Aims: This project aims to validate genomic predictions of species’ vulnerability to climate change.
Significance: Species are already responding to climate change, and many face high predicted rates of extinction. Some species will be able to avoid extinction via evolutionary adaptation. Yet we currently lack the ability to accurately predict which species do and do not have the capacity to adapt and avoid extinction.
Expected outcomes: Expected outcomes of this project ....Genomic vulnerability . Aims: This project aims to validate genomic predictions of species’ vulnerability to climate change.
Significance: Species are already responding to climate change, and many face high predicted rates of extinction. Some species will be able to avoid extinction via evolutionary adaptation. Yet we currently lack the ability to accurately predict which species do and do not have the capacity to adapt and avoid extinction.
Expected outcomes: Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced ability to predict species’ vulnerability to ongoing climate change.
Benefits: This project should significantly improve our capacity to manage threatened and keystone species by identifying those that will require targeted conservation management.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101173
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,318.00
Summary
Inhibiting adenylate-forming enzymes via a new reaction-hijacking mechanism. This project aims to identify and validate the adenylate-forming enzymes that are susceptible to reaction-hijacking inhibition in malaria parasites. This class of enzymes can be induced to synthesise their own nucleoside sulfamate inhibitor conjugates via a novel mechanism. This project expects to provide new knowledge about the molecular basis of this novel inhibition mechanism and susceptible target enzymes in the par ....Inhibiting adenylate-forming enzymes via a new reaction-hijacking mechanism. This project aims to identify and validate the adenylate-forming enzymes that are susceptible to reaction-hijacking inhibition in malaria parasites. This class of enzymes can be induced to synthesise their own nucleoside sulfamate inhibitor conjugates via a novel mechanism. This project expects to provide new knowledge about the molecular basis of this novel inhibition mechanism and susceptible target enzymes in the parasites. Adenylate-forming enzymes play critical roles in a diverse range of biochemical pathways, such as protein translation and fatty acid metabolism. The project seeks to deliver a new paradigm for the design of future antiparasitic agents.Read moreRead less