Unlocking the genetic and biochemical potential of kangaroo paws. Using cutting-edge gene technology and an interdisciplinary approach, this project aims to uncover the genes responsible for flower colour in the iconic kangaroo paws of Western Australia, and identify the compounds that produce the colours. The project expects to produce the first entire kangaroo paw genome and identify unique genetic variants and biochemicals underlying colour differences. This new knowledge should help horticul ....Unlocking the genetic and biochemical potential of kangaroo paws. Using cutting-edge gene technology and an interdisciplinary approach, this project aims to uncover the genes responsible for flower colour in the iconic kangaroo paws of Western Australia, and identify the compounds that produce the colours. The project expects to produce the first entire kangaroo paw genome and identify unique genetic variants and biochemicals underlying colour differences. This new knowledge should help horticultural programs to more easily breed varieties with desirable and highly marketable new colours, and could assist in conserving these amazing Australian plants.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100614
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Novel statistical algorithms and methods to quantify and partition pleiotropy between complex traits in populations. A fundamental question in biology is how common genetic effects are shared between traits or groups. For example, is cognition or human behaviour genetically identical across genders or across human population groups? This project will address these questions using multiple independent genome-wide association studies.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,000.00
Summary
Systems biology: New generation DNA sequencing to functional analysis. The technique of DNA sequencing (or 'reading' the lines of the four repeating letters that make up the genetic code) illustrates how technological developments have become the main drivers in exploring the roles of genetic factors across a spectrum of research activities. Funding provided through this ARC grant will allow the purchase of the latest DNA sequencing platform, the Illumina Solexa, as well as equipment that will b ....Systems biology: New generation DNA sequencing to functional analysis. The technique of DNA sequencing (or 'reading' the lines of the four repeating letters that make up the genetic code) illustrates how technological developments have become the main drivers in exploring the roles of genetic factors across a spectrum of research activities. Funding provided through this ARC grant will allow the purchase of the latest DNA sequencing platform, the Illumina Solexa, as well as equipment that will be used to understand the biological function of the DNA sequencing results that are obtained. The equipment will allow Australian researchers to compete on an equal footing with the international leaders in understanding the roles played by genes in plants, microorganisms, animals and humans.Read moreRead less
TraitCapture: Genomic modelling for plant phenomics under environmental stress. This project aims to develop software to integrate new hyper-spectral and 3D growth models of plant phenomics with population genomics to identify heritable developmental traits across varied environments. Genome wide association studies aim to then be used to identify causal genes. Functional structural plant models incorporating genetic variation will be used to predict growth under simulated stress environments. ....TraitCapture: Genomic modelling for plant phenomics under environmental stress. This project aims to develop software to integrate new hyper-spectral and 3D growth models of plant phenomics with population genomics to identify heritable developmental traits across varied environments. Genome wide association studies aim to then be used to identify causal genes. Functional structural plant models incorporating genetic variation will be used to predict growth under simulated stress environments. The research team unites international industry, the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, and university statistical geneticists. TraitCapture software will use open standards applicable to both controlled and field environments enabling plant breeders to pre-select adaptive traits to increase crop productivity under environmental stress.Read moreRead less
Archaeal dark matter and the origin of eukaryotes. This project aims to investigate the highly controversial origin of eukaryotes and thus all multicellular life within Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms. Resolving eukaryotic origins has long been hampered by an inability to cultivate archaea from the environment. This project aims to develop a novel high-throughput single-cell genomics approach to recover archaeal genomes, thus bypassing the cultivation step. The genomes will con ....Archaeal dark matter and the origin of eukaryotes. This project aims to investigate the highly controversial origin of eukaryotes and thus all multicellular life within Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms. Resolving eukaryotic origins has long been hampered by an inability to cultivate archaea from the environment. This project aims to develop a novel high-throughput single-cell genomics approach to recover archaeal genomes, thus bypassing the cultivation step. The genomes will contribute to a comprehensive taxonomic framework which will facilitate the evaluation of evolutionary relationships between the eukaryotic and archaeal domains. This may uncover previously unknown archaea with novel metabolic capabilities.Read moreRead less
Mapping recombination blocks in Brassica. DNA technology provides new ways to study genomes. Understanding how the genome behaves during plant breeding will help design strategies for the breeding and selection of improved crop plants.
The molecular evolution of wings in flightless birds. The flightless Australian emu and New Zealand kiwi have small wings, while the extinct moa had none at all. This project will identify the genetic changes that have lead to wing reduction and loss in flightless birds. The results will shed light on the genetic control of forelimb development and how it has evolved.
Fertility crisis: harnessing the genomic tension behind pollen fertility in sorghum. Hybrid sorghum varieties yield more grain than inbred varieties but the production seed for farmers can be difficult. This project will identify the genes responsible for a trait that makes hybrid seed production possible and this knowledge will help raise sorghum yields in Australian and in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL110100044
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,001,626.00
Summary
Origin, evolution and roles of cardinal genomic features underpinning animal multicellular complexity. As the first genome project from our oceans, the sea sponge Amphimedon heralds a new era of marine science for Australia. Using post-genomic approaches, this project will show how studying marine organisms can produce the most fundamental insights into not only multicellular life but also into human diseases and cancer that originally evolved from our oceans.
Changing the classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy. A grand challenge in biology is the reconstruction of the complete evolutionary history of life on our planet. A major hurdle to this goal has been the inability to culture most microbial species which comprise the bulk of evolutionary diversity. However, new molecular techniques have removed this hurdle and >1,000 new microbial species are being revealed each month through sequencing of environmental samples. This proje ....Changing the classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy. A grand challenge in biology is the reconstruction of the complete evolutionary history of life on our planet. A major hurdle to this goal has been the inability to culture most microbial species which comprise the bulk of evolutionary diversity. However, new molecular techniques have removed this hurdle and >1,000 new microbial species are being revealed each month through sequencing of environmental samples. This project aims to organise both cultured and uncultured microbial diversity into a systematic evolutionary framework to replace the current highly flawed and incomplete classification of microorganisms. The systematic classification of the microbial world is timely and will enable fundamental insights into ecology and evolution.Read moreRead less