Epigenetic Regulation Of Male Fetal Germ Cell Development.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,176.00
Summary
Men’s health has declined over recent decades, but the causes remain unknown. Non-genetic (epigenetic) mechanisms affecting formation and function of the male germ cells (which produce sperm) may play an important role. We will determine the role of a key epigenetic modifier on the formation and function of male germ cells, including germ cell tumours. This study will provide fundamental insights into male germ cell epigenetics, and significantly contribute to understanding men's health.
Identifying The Pathological Mechanism Of PCDH19-Girls Clustering Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,988.00
Summary
Changes in the PCDH19 gene are a relatively common cause of epilepsy. To better understand the basis of this disorder, we have developed unique mouse models that mimic the genetic changes and symptoms of this condition. We will perform careful analysis of brain development in these models to determine the primary cause of this condition. These experiments will create greater understanding of how changes in PCDH19 cause epilepsy in girls and facilitate the development of new treatments.
The evolution of the alternation of generations in land plants. This project aims to investigate how a genetic system, comprised of a homeodomain protein encoding gene family controlling the haploid to diploid transition, has evolved during land plant evolution.
The project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the evolution of land plants from which our food and fibre are derived.
The intended outcomes include an elucidation of how an ancestral genetic network was elaborated during the e ....The evolution of the alternation of generations in land plants. This project aims to investigate how a genetic system, comprised of a homeodomain protein encoding gene family controlling the haploid to diploid transition, has evolved during land plant evolution.
The project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the evolution of land plants from which our food and fibre are derived.
The intended outcomes include an elucidation of how an ancestral genetic network was elaborated during the evolution of a multicelluar organism, including the retention of ancestral functions and the origins of new functions.
An anticipated benefit is the ability to manipulate the the growth and development of plants based on fundamental principles, which has broad agricultural implications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100190
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,600.00
Summary
Tracing the Evolutionary History of Plant Developmental Mechanisms. Knowledge of the evolutionary history of genes involved in developmental processes provides a foundation for understanding how genetic networks were established and how their manipulation may influence plant growth and form. Genetic programs that direct growth and development in response to light will be examined functionally in Marchantia, a liverwort. Liverworts hold a key position in plant evolution as the sister group to all ....Tracing the Evolutionary History of Plant Developmental Mechanisms. Knowledge of the evolutionary history of genes involved in developmental processes provides a foundation for understanding how genetic networks were established and how their manipulation may influence plant growth and form. Genetic programs that direct growth and development in response to light will be examined functionally in Marchantia, a liverwort. Liverworts hold a key position in plant evolution as the sister group to all other land plants and possess many attributes reminiscent of the ancestral land plant. This project is expected to reveal some of the ancestral mechanisms for how light regulates plant form via the hormone auxin and could, in the future, aid the precise design of plants for diverse agricultural applications.Read moreRead less
The origin and evolution of the land plant meristem. This project aims to identify the extent of overlap between the genetic determinants of the gametophyte and sporophyte shoot meristems.
The project expects to generate new knowledge of the evolution and development of land plants by applying comparative genomics and new technologies to a novel model genetic system.
Expected outcomes include an elucidation of the genetic basis for one of the key morphological adaptations for life on land.
Th ....The origin and evolution of the land plant meristem. This project aims to identify the extent of overlap between the genetic determinants of the gametophyte and sporophyte shoot meristems.
The project expects to generate new knowledge of the evolution and development of land plants by applying comparative genomics and new technologies to a novel model genetic system.
Expected outcomes include an elucidation of the genetic basis for one of the key morphological adaptations for life on land.
The ability to manipulate the growth and development of plants via the activity of meristems based on fundamental principles has broad agricultural implications.
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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100306
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Does spurious maternal-fetal signalling support the evolution of a placenta. This project aims to test a model that explains how the placenta has evolved as a new organ more than 100 times in fishes, reptiles, and mammals including our own ancestors. The project will assess whether regulatory components of the placenta evolve as a result of spurious maternal-fetal signalling following egg retention and eggshell loss in viviparous reptiles. Expected outcomes of this project include a new understa ....Does spurious maternal-fetal signalling support the evolution of a placenta. This project aims to test a model that explains how the placenta has evolved as a new organ more than 100 times in fishes, reptiles, and mammals including our own ancestors. The project will assess whether regulatory components of the placenta evolve as a result of spurious maternal-fetal signalling following egg retention and eggshell loss in viviparous reptiles. Expected outcomes of this project include a new understanding of how complex organs originate and evolve in animals. This will benefit society through a broader depth of understanding of our own evolutionary history and provides a framework for future studies to investigate the origin and evolution of organs more broadly in animals.Read moreRead less
Evolution of the alternation of generations in the land plant life cycle. This project aims to investigate the genetic and evolutionary basis of land plants’ dimorphic life cycle where a single genome can generate two body plans. Like animals, land plants spend part of their life as a diploid, where meiosis generates haploid spores. Unlike animals, these spores grow into multicellular organisms before generating gametes. The project will study a homeodomain protein encoding a gene family that co ....Evolution of the alternation of generations in the land plant life cycle. This project aims to investigate the genetic and evolutionary basis of land plants’ dimorphic life cycle where a single genome can generate two body plans. Like animals, land plants spend part of their life as a diploid, where meiosis generates haploid spores. Unlike animals, these spores grow into multicellular organisms before generating gametes. The project will study a homeodomain protein encoding a gene family that controls the haploid to diploid transition in unicellular algae and fungi. It will investigate land plant genes in a flowering plant and a liverwort. These findings could help scientists understand and manipulate important processes such as pollen and seed production.Read moreRead less
Inflammation as an early form of maternal-fetal signalling in pregnancy. The project aims to understand the role of inflammatory signalling in marsupial pregnancy. This project is expected to explain why inflammation, a processes normally confined to injury and infection, is a part of reproduction in live-bearing mammals. Outcomes of this project include robust measures of the capacity for, impact of, and evolution of, inflammatory signalling in marsupial pregnancy. The project will provide new ....Inflammation as an early form of maternal-fetal signalling in pregnancy. The project aims to understand the role of inflammatory signalling in marsupial pregnancy. This project is expected to explain why inflammation, a processes normally confined to injury and infection, is a part of reproduction in live-bearing mammals. Outcomes of this project include robust measures of the capacity for, impact of, and evolution of, inflammatory signalling in marsupial pregnancy. The project will provide new knowledge about the unique biology of Australia's marsupial fauna.This project will provide significant benefits, including enhanced capacity for reproduction research in Australia, new international collaborations between Melbourne and Yale, and a new explanation for the puzzling role of inflammation in pregnancy.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Myo18b In Myopathies And Sarcomere Assembly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,776.00
Summary
Muscle force is provided by a specific structure within the muscle cell termed the sarcomere. Sarcomeres are the engine-room of muscle cells, that act as complex cellular machines to controls muscle contraction. Many muscle degenerative disorders are caused by defects within the sarcomeres, but how this occurs is not well understood. This grant examines how one such muscle waiting disease, or myopathy, results from mutations in a gene encoding a component of the sarcomere called Myo18b.
Developing the dunnart as a marsupial model for conservation research. The Australian bushfire crisis of 2020 has taken an enormous toll on our unique wildlife. With no halt in sight to rising global temperatures, more extreme weather events are predicted to increase in frequency and severity. We simply must act now to preserve our unique native mammals in Australia and safeguard against species loss and irreversible declines in genetic diversity. This project will develop methods for the genera ....Developing the dunnart as a marsupial model for conservation research. The Australian bushfire crisis of 2020 has taken an enormous toll on our unique wildlife. With no halt in sight to rising global temperatures, more extreme weather events are predicted to increase in frequency and severity. We simply must act now to preserve our unique native mammals in Australia and safeguard against species loss and irreversible declines in genetic diversity. This project will develop methods for the generation and preservation of stem cells from a range of our most endangered and vulnerable marsupial species. These cells not only allow us to ‘bank’ species and genetic diversity but also provide a route to enabling genetic manipulation, opening up a completely new niche for conservation biology in marsupials.Read moreRead less