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Characterising rates of molecular evolution across the Tree of Life. This project aims to characterise the variation in molecular evolutionary rates across the Tree of Life. Despite advances in genetic methods and genomic data, a critical gap remains in knowledge of evolutionary rates across species. The project will evaluate and refine methods for estimating rates, develop genomic data for molecular clocks, create an online database of rate estimates, and reconstruct ecological communities’ res ....Characterising rates of molecular evolution across the Tree of Life. This project aims to characterise the variation in molecular evolutionary rates across the Tree of Life. Despite advances in genetic methods and genomic data, a critical gap remains in knowledge of evolutionary rates across species. The project will evaluate and refine methods for estimating rates, develop genomic data for molecular clocks, create an online database of rate estimates, and reconstruct ecological communities’ responses to past environmental and climatic factors. The project’s database of evolutionary rates in different species is expected to increase understanding of evolutionary and demographic events across species, including the Australian biota, and improve conservation efforts.Read moreRead less
Understanding somatic mutation in plants: new methods, new software, new data. Somatic mutations accumulate as plants grow, affecting everything from short-term ecological interactions to long-term evolutionary dynamics. These mutations have important consequences for plant industry and conservation, but because they are so hard to measure almost nothing is known about them. This project aims to develop new methods and software to detect, analyse, and compare the genome-wide history of somatic m ....Understanding somatic mutation in plants: new methods, new software, new data. Somatic mutations accumulate as plants grow, affecting everything from short-term ecological interactions to long-term evolutionary dynamics. These mutations have important consequences for plant industry and conservation, but because they are so hard to measure almost nothing is known about them. This project aims to develop new methods and software to detect, analyse, and compare the genome-wide history of somatic mutation in individual plants, providing an unprecedented level of detail into an important but understudied source of biological variation. By applying these methods to an iconic experimental population, This project aims to provide the first insights into the genome-wide causes and consequences of somatic mutation in plants.Read moreRead less
Early evolution of the endomesoderm gene regulatory network. This project aims to unravel the endomesoderm gene network’s evolutionary history by identifying its conserved components’ target genes in the calcareous sponge Sycon. Little is known about the evolutionary origin of the developmental gene regulatory networks active in the development of all Eumetazoans (animals with nerves and digestive systems). Sponges are key models to study the transition from protists to eumetazoans, and gene exp ....Early evolution of the endomesoderm gene regulatory network. This project aims to unravel the endomesoderm gene network’s evolutionary history by identifying its conserved components’ target genes in the calcareous sponge Sycon. Little is known about the evolutionary origin of the developmental gene regulatory networks active in the development of all Eumetazoans (animals with nerves and digestive systems). Sponges are key models to study the transition from protists to eumetazoans, and gene expression data supports homology between sponge and eumetazoan tissues and body plans. This project could illuminate the evolutionary history of the animal body plan.Read moreRead less
The genetics of resistance to devil facial tumour disease. Tasmanian devils are on the brink of extinction due to a new contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The aim of this project is to determine the genetic nature of DFTD resistance in order to directly contribute to the conservation management of this iconic and ecologically important species. This research will generate fundamental information about genetic diversity in Tasmanian devils and establish the feasibility of bree ....The genetics of resistance to devil facial tumour disease. Tasmanian devils are on the brink of extinction due to a new contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The aim of this project is to determine the genetic nature of DFTD resistance in order to directly contribute to the conservation management of this iconic and ecologically important species. This research will generate fundamental information about genetic diversity in Tasmanian devils and establish the feasibility of breeding resistant animals for release into the wild. Read moreRead less
Genomic and molecular characterisation of a novel Australian leishmania pathogen. Leishmaniasis is the second most serious protozoal disease after malaria. This project will help characterise the first Leishmania species identified in Australia providing molecular tools to monitor the pathogen and a detailed assessment of any potential risk to human health. Comparative analysis with more pathogenic species will help identify genes and mechanisms that determine the progression of human disease le ....Genomic and molecular characterisation of a novel Australian leishmania pathogen. Leishmaniasis is the second most serious protozoal disease after malaria. This project will help characterise the first Leishmania species identified in Australia providing molecular tools to monitor the pathogen and a detailed assessment of any potential risk to human health. Comparative analysis with more pathogenic species will help identify genes and mechanisms that determine the progression of human disease leading to the potential identification of new drug and vaccine targets. The methodologies and expertise developed will be used will be available to other research groups working on infectious diseases.Read moreRead less
Adaptive evolution of coleoid (cuttlefish, octopus, squid) venoms. This project represents an opportunity for biodiscovery from the venoms of cuttlefish, octopuses and squids. The independent adaptation for venom active at the subzero Arctic and Antarctic polar waters is of particular evolutionary interest. However, their divergent, bioactive compounds are also a rich drug design resource.
Microbial junk food: developing synthetic platforms for plastic degradation. This project aims to establish the genetic basis of polyethelene biodegradation (PED) by microbes from the gut microbiome of plastic-eating caterpillars. It will transform the active microbial PED genes into carefully designed synthetic microbes for efficient, safe and large-scale PED. The project will combine innovative functional microbial genetic tools and synthetic biology techniques with solid biochemistry and bioi ....Microbial junk food: developing synthetic platforms for plastic degradation. This project aims to establish the genetic basis of polyethelene biodegradation (PED) by microbes from the gut microbiome of plastic-eating caterpillars. It will transform the active microbial PED genes into carefully designed synthetic microbes for efficient, safe and large-scale PED. The project will combine innovative functional microbial genetic tools and synthetic biology techniques with solid biochemistry and bioinformatics to produce translatable synthetic platforms containing key genes optimised for efficient PE waste removal. The outcomes will have the potential to transform the relative ineffective and expensive current methods for PE disposal into flexible, cost-effective and sustainable solutions applicable to multiple sectors.Read moreRead less
Is 'junk DNA' involved in gene editing in human cells. Exciting results suggest that non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), some of which emanate from regions in the human genome traditionally known as “junk DNA”, actually function to regulate protein-coding gene transcription. The goal of this project is to explore the role of ncRNAs on a genome-wide level to determine those proteins involved in this process and to what extent this process results in directed genome editing. Knowledge of the ncRNA pathways m ....Is 'junk DNA' involved in gene editing in human cells. Exciting results suggest that non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), some of which emanate from regions in the human genome traditionally known as “junk DNA”, actually function to regulate protein-coding gene transcription. The goal of this project is to explore the role of ncRNAs on a genome-wide level to determine those proteins involved in this process and to what extent this process results in directed genome editing. Knowledge of the ncRNA pathways may lead to a novel methodology to activate silenced genes as well as determine the role of ncRNAs in genome evolution.Read moreRead less
The role of toxin biosynthesis for marine dinoflagellates - an evolutionary ecological approach. Dinoflagellates are a group of microalgae that include coral symbionts and phytoplankton. Many species produce potent toxins that can be a problem in the aquaculture industry. This project will use novel genetic methods to investigate the evolution and ecology of toxin production in a variety of marine dinoflagellates.
Defining the impact of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors on the sustainability of
Australia’s Native Marsupials. Environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDs) from introduced plants, pesticides and wastewater are dramatically increasing in the Australian environment. EEDs have been shown to cause dramatic reproductive and developmental abnormalities in vertebrates ranging from fish to humans. This project plans to investigate the impact that these chemicals might have on marsupial devel ....Defining the impact of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors on the sustainability of
Australia’s Native Marsupials. Environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDs) from introduced plants, pesticides and wastewater are dramatically increasing in the Australian environment. EEDs have been shown to cause dramatic reproductive and developmental abnormalities in vertebrates ranging from fish to humans. This project plans to investigate the impact that these chemicals might have on marsupial development. Marsupials have a unique reproductive strategy and how this might affect their ability to respond to EEDs is unknown. This project aims to define the effects of three of the predominant EED risks for marsupials in the Australian environment; estradiol, genistein and atrazine.Read moreRead less