Lungfish Paired Fins and the Origin of Limbs as an Evolutionary Novelty. This project will utilise a uniquely Australian animal, the lungfish, to address a hitherto unresolved problem of considerable scientific significance - how a fish fin evolved into a tetrapod (four-legged animal) limb. The Australian lungfish is the most primitive of the four surviving genera of lobe-finned fish and is recognised as the closest living ancestor to the tetrapods. It is listed as 'vulnerable' in its native ha ....Lungfish Paired Fins and the Origin of Limbs as an Evolutionary Novelty. This project will utilise a uniquely Australian animal, the lungfish, to address a hitherto unresolved problem of considerable scientific significance - how a fish fin evolved into a tetrapod (four-legged animal) limb. The Australian lungfish is the most primitive of the four surviving genera of lobe-finned fish and is recognised as the closest living ancestor to the tetrapods. It is listed as 'vulnerable' in its native habitat. Macquarie University, however, has the only captive breeding population of lungfish in the world. We are thus uniquely placed to address critically important questions concerning the evolution of fish into tetrapods. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347245
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,000.00
Summary
Functional Genomics Analysis - linking a multicentred facility. The aim of this project is to enhance and network the functions and activities of the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analysis (CGRCGFA), a joint venture that services five major universities in the Sydney-Newcastle area. This application is for equipment that will improve the speed of DNA analyses, and for a laboratory information management system that will standardise the handling of data and sample information ....Functional Genomics Analysis - linking a multicentred facility. The aim of this project is to enhance and network the functions and activities of the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analysis (CGRCGFA), a joint venture that services five major universities in the Sydney-Newcastle area. This application is for equipment that will improve the speed of DNA analyses, and for a laboratory information management system that will standardise the handling of data and sample information at all nodes of the CVRCGFA.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0232455
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,000.00
Summary
The Molecular Analysis of Variation and Gene Function. The aim of this project is to establish the nodes of the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analysis (CVRCGFA) which is a joint venture that serves the five major universities and three Institutes in the Sydney-Newcastle region. The primary focus of this application is to create new facilities at the hubs of CVRCFGA that are integral to the analysis of molecular variation in a range of organisms. The study of molecular vari ....The Molecular Analysis of Variation and Gene Function. The aim of this project is to establish the nodes of the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analysis (CVRCGFA) which is a joint venture that serves the five major universities and three Institutes in the Sydney-Newcastle region. The primary focus of this application is to create new facilities at the hubs of CVRCFGA that are integral to the analysis of molecular variation in a range of organisms. The study of molecular variation will enable researchers to understand better how organisms interact with each other, how they respond to environmental stress and aid in the identification of complez traits.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453724
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,824.00
Summary
Functional Genomics - Linking Genomics and Proteomics. This application is to enhance the capacity of the Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analaysis (RCFGA) and its Nodes to support research in Functional Genomics by expanding its ability to link genomic analysis (including transcriptomics) with proteomic and cell biological analysis. It will provide access to novel methods for analysing interactions of proteins with other molecules by enabling the manufacture of protein arrays as well as DN ....Functional Genomics - Linking Genomics and Proteomics. This application is to enhance the capacity of the Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analaysis (RCFGA) and its Nodes to support research in Functional Genomics by expanding its ability to link genomic analysis (including transcriptomics) with proteomic and cell biological analysis. It will provide access to novel methods for analysing interactions of proteins with other molecules by enabling the manufacture of protein arrays as well as DNA microarrays and to analyse the data obtained from them. This is a vital component to maintain gene function analysis at the cutting edge of current technology.Read moreRead less
Use of Gradipore technology to develop novel methods for the preparation and segregation of mammalian spermatozoa. The purpose of this project is to harness the expertise available within an Australian biotechnology company, Gradipore, to develop novel methods for the preparation of mammalian spermatozoa and the segregation of these cells into X-and Y- bearing populations. This technology will find application in: (1)clinical andrology, where rapid, safe protocols for the preparation and segrega ....Use of Gradipore technology to develop novel methods for the preparation and segregation of mammalian spermatozoa. The purpose of this project is to harness the expertise available within an Australian biotechnology company, Gradipore, to develop novel methods for the preparation of mammalian spermatozoa and the segregation of these cells into X-and Y- bearing populations. This technology will find application in: (1)clinical andrology, where rapid, safe protocols for the preparation and segregation of human spermatozoa are being actively sought in the context of assisted conception and the management of sex-linked genetic diseases and (2) agriculture, particularly the cattle industry, where a capacity to predetermine the sex of the offspring would be extremely valuable.Read moreRead less
Mouse models for the identification of factors involved in muscle adaptation. The ability of muscle to adapt to meet functional demands is essential for mobility in normal daily life, in ageing well, in individuals with muscle diseases and nerve damage and in athletes. The ability of muscle to change its cellular composition is desirable for the livestock industry. Knowledge of how genes in muscle cells are regulated to adapt to demands has significant implications for public health and economic ....Mouse models for the identification of factors involved in muscle adaptation. The ability of muscle to adapt to meet functional demands is essential for mobility in normal daily life, in ageing well, in individuals with muscle diseases and nerve damage and in athletes. The ability of muscle to change its cellular composition is desirable for the livestock industry. Knowledge of how genes in muscle cells are regulated to adapt to demands has significant implications for public health and economic benefits. We have devised model systems that will allow us to identify the regulators of these genes in order to develop therapies to combat these changes in ageing and damaged muscle, to improve the quality of meat and optimise sport performance.Read moreRead less
Linking mutant zebrafish phenotypes with their underlying genetic lesions. Zebrafish mutants have been generated with many interesting abnormalities, but to understand these abnormalities, the defective genes must be identified by positional cloning. We seek to identify the defective genes underpinning four mutants. Mutant #562 develops a normal nervous system which then undergoes rapid degeneration. The mutant flotte lotte has abnormal gut development. Two mutants with defective early blood for ....Linking mutant zebrafish phenotypes with their underlying genetic lesions. Zebrafish mutants have been generated with many interesting abnormalities, but to understand these abnormalities, the defective genes must be identified by positional cloning. We seek to identify the defective genes underpinning four mutants. Mutant #562 develops a normal nervous system which then undergoes rapid degeneration. The mutant flotte lotte has abnormal gut development. Two mutants with defective early blood formation will be studied. We will establish techniques for several steps that will be useful for all zebrafish mapping projects. We expect the genetic characterization of these mutants to provide new insights into nerve cell survival, gut development, and blood formation.Read moreRead less
Defining The Molecular Effectors Of Gene/environment Interaction On Mouse Heart Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$749,271.00
Summary
One third of all birth defects involve the heart, and are the most common cause of infant death. Some defects are due to genetic factors, but others arise when the pregnant mother is exposed to environmental stress. We will examine how one stress (low oxygen levels) causes abnormal heart formation in the embryo, look at what causes this at a molecular level, and explore if such stress increases the risk of heart defects in families with a history of such abnormalities
Head and face development: dissecting tissue-specific gene function. The outcome of our investigation of the early development will inform us of the ways and means for the embryo to assemble the essential building blocks of the body, and insights into the developmental origin of birth defects. This knowledge will benefit the biomedical research community, the education sector and the general public by enabling the formulation of new hypotheses, enriching the curriculum, and providing an evidenc ....Head and face development: dissecting tissue-specific gene function. The outcome of our investigation of the early development will inform us of the ways and means for the embryo to assemble the essential building blocks of the body, and insights into the developmental origin of birth defects. This knowledge will benefit the biomedical research community, the education sector and the general public by enabling the formulation of new hypotheses, enriching the curriculum, and providing an evidence-based understanding of the genetic basis of congenital malformations for delivering informative counselling. The technical expertise gained from this project will enhance the nation's research capability through the sharing of skills and knowledge with other research teams in the academia and the industry. Read moreRead less
Neurogenesis in bilateral larval and radial adult body plans: identification of echinoderm homologues of the chordate central nervous system. The modern synthesis of embryology and gene expression studies, as undertaken in this project with sea stars, is a major way forward to achieve advances in our understanding of animal evolution and generate new insights into the mystery that surrounds the origin of our own phylum, the Chordata. This project utilises life history diversity in species that a ....Neurogenesis in bilateral larval and radial adult body plans: identification of echinoderm homologues of the chordate central nervous system. The modern synthesis of embryology and gene expression studies, as undertaken in this project with sea stars, is a major way forward to achieve advances in our understanding of animal evolution and generate new insights into the mystery that surrounds the origin of our own phylum, the Chordata. This project utilises life history diversity in species that are unique Australian fauna. Extreme life history diversity as seen in these sea stars is unparalleled on a global scale and provides an important resource to generate new discoveries on the processes underlying evolution in the sea and enhance our understanding of marine systems. Read moreRead less