Boron Nitrogen Isostere-Doped Organometallics for Molecular Electronics. The challenge of connecting two or more metals by a single chain of carbon atoms attracts intense study, thereby mimicking electronic circuitry at the molecular level. BN-Isosteric compounds involve selectively replacing (doping) carbon atoms with the elements boron (B) and nitrogen (N). These unprecedented materials should emulate and likely exceed the properties of all-carbon systems. This project aims to design and s .... Boron Nitrogen Isostere-Doped Organometallics for Molecular Electronics. The challenge of connecting two or more metals by a single chain of carbon atoms attracts intense study, thereby mimicking electronic circuitry at the molecular level. BN-Isosteric compounds involve selectively replacing (doping) carbon atoms with the elements boron (B) and nitrogen (N). These unprecedented materials should emulate and likely exceed the properties of all-carbon systems. This project aims to design and synthesise the first molecular BN-isosteric carbon-wire materials including examples based on metal-carbon multiple bonding. Expected outcomes beyond their isolation include high-level interrogation of the structure-function behaviour of their electrical and optical properties relevant to the technologies that will emerge.Read moreRead less
Variation in the arginine vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a) gene, the social environment, general health and wellbeing. The project aims to investigate how the arginine vasopressin 1a gene affects gene expression and influences social behaviour and ultimately health and wellbeing. This research will contribute to understanding the importance of individual differences in social policy and interventions aimed at improving health and wellbeing.
DNA methylation in insect social evolution. This project will investigate the evolutionary relationship between DNA methylation and the advanced sociality displayed by bees, ants and wasps. The project will map DNA methylation across the social insects and test whether it has coevolved with sociality. It will also determine how a vital social cue, the queen pheromone, influences the worker methylome. Finally, it will apply quantitative genetic and methylomic methods to wild insects, revealing pa ....DNA methylation in insect social evolution. This project will investigate the evolutionary relationship between DNA methylation and the advanced sociality displayed by bees, ants and wasps. The project will map DNA methylation across the social insects and test whether it has coevolved with sociality. It will also determine how a vital social cue, the queen pheromone, influences the worker methylome. Finally, it will apply quantitative genetic and methylomic methods to wild insects, revealing patterns of selection and inheritance in epigenetic and phenotypic traits. By combining genomic and evolutionary methods, the project will advance the ongoing debate about the importance of methylation to sociality and extreme phenotypic plasticity. It will contribute to a quantum leap in our understanding of DNA methylation and sociobiology and mark the first application of quantitative genetics to wild insects.Read moreRead less