Symmetries in CR-geometry. This project aims at investigating symmetries of geometric objects called CR-manifolds. It is expected to open new avenues for understanding such symmetries at the infinitesimal level and lead to ground-breaking results in CR-geometry. Expected outcomes include new methodology, solving long-standing problems, and establishing international research collaborations. The benefits are in enhancing the strength of the research in analysis and geometry performed in Australia ....Symmetries in CR-geometry. This project aims at investigating symmetries of geometric objects called CR-manifolds. It is expected to open new avenues for understanding such symmetries at the infinitesimal level and lead to ground-breaking results in CR-geometry. Expected outcomes include new methodology, solving long-standing problems, and establishing international research collaborations. The benefits are in enhancing the strength of the research in analysis and geometry performed in Australia, in fostering the international competitiveness of Australian research and in high-quality research training.Read moreRead less
Nilpotent associative algebras and spherical hypersurfaces. This project concerns pure basic research in mathematics and is based on an important recently discovered relationship between certain geometric and algebraic objects. In the project, this relationship will be applied in a novel way to solve several significant long-standing problems in the research area of complex geometry.
The Reconstruction and Recognition Problems for Hypersurface Singularities. This project concerns pure basic research in mathematics. It is centred around a surprising relationship between geometric objects called quasi-homogeneous isolated hypersurface singularities, and algebraic structures described as Artinian Gorenstein algebras. This relationship has not been fully understood despite numerous attempts by internationally based experts to shed light on it. Armed with a novel approach to Arti ....The Reconstruction and Recognition Problems for Hypersurface Singularities. This project concerns pure basic research in mathematics. It is centred around a surprising relationship between geometric objects called quasi-homogeneous isolated hypersurface singularities, and algebraic structures described as Artinian Gorenstein algebras. This relationship has not been fully understood despite numerous attempts by internationally based experts to shed light on it. Armed with a novel approach to Artinian Gorenstein algebras, this project proposes to clarify the nature of this relationship and utilise it for solving related geometric and algebraic problems. In particular, it aims at obtaining a groundbreaking result in the area of classical invariant theory.Read moreRead less
Proper Group Actions in Complex Geometry. The results of the project will enhance Australia's performance in several key mathematical areas as well as mathematical applications to physics critical for expanding Australia's knowledge base and research capability. The project has strong international aspects, it will foster the international competitiveness of Australian research and establish long-term collaborations between Australian researchers and high profile world experts in the area of the ....Proper Group Actions in Complex Geometry. The results of the project will enhance Australia's performance in several key mathematical areas as well as mathematical applications to physics critical for expanding Australia's knowledge base and research capability. The project has strong international aspects, it will foster the international competitiveness of Australian research and establish long-term collaborations between Australian researchers and high profile world experts in the area of the proposal. It will create an opportunity for a Ph.D. graduate to be involved in top-class research as a Research Associate, and will attract Ph.D. and honours students thus enabling research training in a high-quality mathematical environment.Read moreRead less
Symmetry and geometric structures. This is a fundamental research project in mathematics, especially concerned with the interaction between symmetry, differential equations, and geometry. Based on many classical and recently discovered instances, the aim of the project is to use symmetries to build and understand curved geometric structures from their flat counterparts.
New models for the role of chromatin in controlling inducible gene expression. This proposal aims to test novel models of how packaging of DNA in the nucleus plays a fundamental role in gene expression. Understanding these concepts is important in the context of successful gene therapy where major hurdles need to be overcome. This work also has implications for somatic cell therapy since it is important to understand how genes are expressed in order to successfully reprogram cells. Both of these ....New models for the role of chromatin in controlling inducible gene expression. This proposal aims to test novel models of how packaging of DNA in the nucleus plays a fundamental role in gene expression. Understanding these concepts is important in the context of successful gene therapy where major hurdles need to be overcome. This work also has implications for somatic cell therapy since it is important to understand how genes are expressed in order to successfully reprogram cells. Both of these areas are important to the Biotechnology industry. Answering questions about higher order chromatin structure in gene transcription will provide cutting edge, innovative knowledge that will have international significance. Read moreRead less
Epigenetic silencing in vertebrates: evolution and function from the bottom-up. The primary benefits are contribution to Australia's knowledge base and raising the profile of functional genomics in Australia, with the research priority of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and priority goals in Breakthrough Science and Frontier Technologies. This project focuses on important biological questions surrounding gene regulation and sex chromosome evolution. Inte ....Epigenetic silencing in vertebrates: evolution and function from the bottom-up. The primary benefits are contribution to Australia's knowledge base and raising the profile of functional genomics in Australia, with the research priority of Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries and priority goals in Breakthrough Science and Frontier Technologies. This project focuses on important biological questions surrounding gene regulation and sex chromosome evolution. International attention has already resulted in genome characterization of Australian icons (wallaby, Tasmanian devil and platypus), more research on these, and other Australian animals, will further highlight the importance of Australian fauna and impact positively on our scientific profile.Read moreRead less
Origin and evolution of genes on the human X chromosome. Two groups of functionally related genes are found on the human X chromosome in disproportionately high numbers. I will test whether an uneven distribution of genes is common in mammalian genomes, or whether the human X is special. I will test hypotheses of how the gene groups arose on the human X by comparing their location and expression patterns in other mammals, and other vertebrates. It will then be clear whether the ancestral autosom ....Origin and evolution of genes on the human X chromosome. Two groups of functionally related genes are found on the human X chromosome in disproportionately high numbers. I will test whether an uneven distribution of genes is common in mammalian genomes, or whether the human X is special. I will test hypotheses of how the gene groups arose on the human X by comparing their location and expression patterns in other mammals, and other vertebrates. It will then be clear whether the ancestral autosome was ?chosen?, whether it ?selfishly? accumulated these genes, or whether the function of genes changed in response to selective pressures.Read moreRead less
Small is beautiful: Did gene-rich regions of mammal chromosomes evolve from microchromosomes? Most birds and reptile genomes feature many tiny microchromosomes. These are not junk, as previously thought, but contain most of the genes. Mammals lack microchromosomes, but contain gene-rich regions with similar attributes. We suggest that microchromosomes originated by genome duplication, and evolved into the gene-rich regions of mammalian chromosomes. We will test this hypothesis by comparing seque ....Small is beautiful: Did gene-rich regions of mammal chromosomes evolve from microchromosomes? Most birds and reptile genomes feature many tiny microchromosomes. These are not junk, as previously thought, but contain most of the genes. Mammals lack microchromosomes, but contain gene-rich regions with similar attributes. We suggest that microchromosomes originated by genome duplication, and evolved into the gene-rich regions of mammalian chromosomes. We will test this hypothesis by comparing sequences and genes in microchromosomes of birds, reptiles and monotremes. This will clarify the origin and evolution of the ?microgenome?, establish its suitability as a model for vertebrate genome organisation, and demonstrate whether microchromosomes are the ancestors of the gene-rich regions of mammalian chromosomes.Read moreRead less
Origin and Evolution of Mammalian Dosage Compensation. The primary benefits are contribution to Australia's knowledge base and raising the profile of functional comparative genomics in Australia, with the research priority of 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' and priority goals in 'Breakthrough Science and Frontier Technologies'. This project addresses fundamental questions about the evolution of mammalian X-chromosome inactivation, of importance as a mo ....Origin and Evolution of Mammalian Dosage Compensation. The primary benefits are contribution to Australia's knowledge base and raising the profile of functional comparative genomics in Australia, with the research priority of 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries' and priority goals in 'Breakthrough Science and Frontier Technologies'. This project addresses fundamental questions about the evolution of mammalian X-chromosome inactivation, of importance as a model for epigenetic change, and sex chromosomes, which has engaged some of the greatest genetic minds over nearly a century. Therefore my results will attract wide international interest and impact positively on Australia's scientific profile, and further highlight the importance of Australian mammals.Read moreRead less