Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals. Shells and skeletons are produced by a wide range of animals. These highly-order crystalline structures are genetically-encoded and produce high-performance composite materials that exceed present capabilities in human engineering. This international collaboration will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materi ....Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals. Shells and skeletons are produced by a wide range of animals. These highly-order crystalline structures are genetically-encoded and produce high-performance composite materials that exceed present capabilities in human engineering. This international collaboration will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materials for advanced electronics and energy transducers, human bone therapeutics and marine-based products such as pearls and cements, through the identification of genes underlying biofabrication networks and the development of in vitro bioproduction systems.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354638
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Innovative science for sustainable use of marine biodiversity goods and services. Development of new scientific tools and technologies provide expanded opportunities for marine biological research in Australia. An urgent need is to coordinate research scientists and institutions to ensure maximum benefits and to meet Australia's obligations under UNCLOS. The primary goal of this proposed Network is to develop research programs of international significance, through the establishment of new teams ....Innovative science for sustainable use of marine biodiversity goods and services. Development of new scientific tools and technologies provide expanded opportunities for marine biological research in Australia. An urgent need is to coordinate research scientists and institutions to ensure maximum benefits and to meet Australia's obligations under UNCLOS. The primary goal of this proposed Network is to develop research programs of international significance, through the establishment of new teams of Australia's leading marine scientists, mathematical modelers and economists that transcend traditional disciplinary, institutional and geographic boundaries. Our goal is to add focus, scale and scope to an enduring program of innovative research development, leading to world leadership in marine resource management.Read moreRead less
Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier positi ....Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier position of the Australian South Sea Pearl in the market, but also to move it further ahead. Knowledge of the genetics of pearl formation will advance a range of hatchery and farm practices, such as selective breeding and pearl grafting, which in turn can enhance farm-based operations and the remote communities that support them.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured Sou ....Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured South Sea Pearl through gaining a detailed understanding of how the oyster genetically controls pearl biofabrication - focusing on pearl colour, size and lustre. This information will identify pearl oysters that are a source of high-quality donor mantle tissue and that can be used in selective breeding programs.Read moreRead less