Adaptive evolution of mutual mate preferences in nature. Working at the interface of evolution, genetics and the environment, our research combines top scientists from Australia and abroad to seek a comprehensive understanding of the origins of biodiversity, and the evolution of new species. Such knowledge is essential if we wish to predict, and hopefully minimise, the loss of biodiversity through human-mediated environmental change. Using a native Australian insect, we are investigating the evo ....Adaptive evolution of mutual mate preferences in nature. Working at the interface of evolution, genetics and the environment, our research combines top scientists from Australia and abroad to seek a comprehensive understanding of the origins of biodiversity, and the evolution of new species. Such knowledge is essential if we wish to predict, and hopefully minimise, the loss of biodiversity through human-mediated environmental change. Using a native Australian insect, we are investigating the evolutionary consequences of the choice individuals make when selecting a mate. In addition to its role in the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, these choices can have fundamental effects on adaptation to changing environments and the long-term persistence of endangered populations.Read moreRead less
A high-through-put method for unlocking the mitochondrial genomes of significant pathogens. The national/community benefits of this research are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to ....A high-through-put method for unlocking the mitochondrial genomes of significant pathogens. The national/community benefits of this research are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by promoting collaborative research, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in a national and international context; (4) to enhance the skills-base in biology and biotechnology; and (5) to substantially increase global visibility through quality research, leading to an increased investment in Australian science.Read moreRead less
The major histocompatibility complex and scent-mediated mate choice in a Procellariiform, Gould's petrel. In Australia, there are 25 species of Procellariiformes listed as threatened or endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Formulating comprehensive conservation plans for endangered species requires a good understanding of the species' breeding biology yet virtually nothing is known about the mechanisms involved in mate choice in the procellariiforms ....The major histocompatibility complex and scent-mediated mate choice in a Procellariiform, Gould's petrel. In Australia, there are 25 species of Procellariiformes listed as threatened or endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Formulating comprehensive conservation plans for endangered species requires a good understanding of the species' breeding biology yet virtually nothing is known about the mechanisms involved in mate choice in the procellariiforms. A better understanding of the traits these long-lived birds use when choosing their lifelong breeding partner could greatly benefit conservation strategies designed to protect them. This could be particularly beneficial where translocation is an option because birds being translocated could be assessed for compatibility prior to translocation.Read moreRead less
Metabolic engineering of Zymomonas mobilis for higher value fermentation products. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals such as succinic acid via fermentation is cosiderably environmental friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce not only conventional sugar products but also high val ....Metabolic engineering of Zymomonas mobilis for higher value fermentation products. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals such as succinic acid via fermentation is cosiderably environmental friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce not only conventional sugar products but also high value commodities via the process integration of succinic acid production using agricultural residues such as bagasse. This will contribute to significant levels of job creation in Australia, and further benefits will be that such products will be important both for import replacement and export potential.Read moreRead less
MitoGenomics of Key Pathogens - An International Research Co-operative. The national/community benefits are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by pr ....MitoGenomics of Key Pathogens - An International Research Co-operative. The national/community benefits are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by promoting collaborative research, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in a national and international context; (4) to enhance the skills-base in biology and biotechnology; (5) to substantially increase global visibility through quality research, leading to an increased investment in Australian science.Read moreRead less
Metabolic engineering to develop recombinant Zymomonas mobilis for the production of fuel ethanol and fermentation chemicals. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals, such as succinic acid via fermentation is more considerably environmentally friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce no ....Metabolic engineering to develop recombinant Zymomonas mobilis for the production of fuel ethanol and fermentation chemicals. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals, such as succinic acid via fermentation is more considerably environmentally friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce not only conventional sugar products but also high value commodities via the process integration of succinic acid production using agricultural residues, such as bagasse. This will contribute to significant levels of job creation in Australia, with the further benefit that such products will be important for both import replacement and export potential.Read moreRead less
The role of households, neighbourhoods and networks in social statistics. Many issues affect the social progress of the country. Social research can determine the factors affecting issues such as unemployment, poverty, educational attainment, crime victimization and poor health. Survey and other data are used extensively to examine these conditions and their association with attributes of people. This project will provide methods to better determine the impact of effects associated with the h ....The role of households, neighbourhoods and networks in social statistics. Many issues affect the social progress of the country. Social research can determine the factors affecting issues such as unemployment, poverty, educational attainment, crime victimization and poor health. Survey and other data are used extensively to examine these conditions and their association with attributes of people. This project will provide methods to better determine the impact of effects associated with the household structure and other groups and social networks. The improved ability to assess the impact of these factors will have economic and social benefits. These benefits will arise from improved analysis leading to better decisions and improvements in the design of research studies improving their cost efficiency.Read moreRead less
Echoes of the earliest Homo sapiens movement out of Africa. The "Out of Africa" and "Multiregional Evolution" theories have proposed sharply different accounts for the origins of our species Homo sapiens. These have converged on opposite readings of the Australian human fossil record. Recent perspectives resulting from research on Pleistocene Australian mitochondrial DNA, and by osteologists on early Homo sapiens remains in Africa and Israel, hint at a chapter, as yet unwritten, in our species' ....Echoes of the earliest Homo sapiens movement out of Africa. The "Out of Africa" and "Multiregional Evolution" theories have proposed sharply different accounts for the origins of our species Homo sapiens. These have converged on opposite readings of the Australian human fossil record. Recent perspectives resulting from research on Pleistocene Australian mitochondrial DNA, and by osteologists on early Homo sapiens remains in Africa and Israel, hint at a chapter, as yet unwritten, in our species' Late Pleistocene dispersal from Africa. This project's collaborative research on fossils from Sri Lanka and Australasia will explore and test the implications for the colonisation history of the Indian Ocean region.Read moreRead less
Developmental regulation of plant mitochondrial genome structure and copy number. Recombination is a major driving force behind mitochondrial DNA evolution and is responsible for the occurrence of cytoplasmic male sterile plants that are used by plant breeders to obtain high yield hybrids. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie mitochondrial and chloroplast genome maintenance and segregation will be a major fundamental scientific advance that will permit an integrated picture of ....Developmental regulation of plant mitochondrial genome structure and copy number. Recombination is a major driving force behind mitochondrial DNA evolution and is responsible for the occurrence of cytoplasmic male sterile plants that are used by plant breeders to obtain high yield hybrids. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie mitochondrial and chloroplast genome maintenance and segregation will be a major fundamental scientific advance that will permit an integrated picture of the interactions between the three plant genomes (nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplastic). It is also a pre-requisite for the future manipulation of the cytoplasmic genomes leading to new ways to develop varieties with modified cytoplasms.Read moreRead less
Regional Economic Development and Performance: Roles of Leadership and Institutional Factors in Endogenous Growth. Contemporary regional economic development theory emphasises endogenous factors as key determinants of difference in regional economic performance. Leadership and institutional issues require special attention for analysis and in strategy formulation and implementation of regional development plans. This project develops model frameworks for analysing the impact of those endogenous ....Regional Economic Development and Performance: Roles of Leadership and Institutional Factors in Endogenous Growth. Contemporary regional economic development theory emphasises endogenous factors as key determinants of difference in regional economic performance. Leadership and institutional issues require special attention for analysis and in strategy formulation and implementation of regional development plans. This project develops model frameworks for analysing the impact of those endogenous factors on regional economic performance and develops methodologies for their incorporation into regional development strategy, using illustrative case studies. A major book on this topic will result. The collaboration is between researchers at the University of Queensland and George Mason University.Read moreRead less