Evolution and function of mammalian sex chromosomes. Research on iconic Australian mammals has profoundly reshaped our understanding of reproductive biology and sex chromosome evolution. In this project we combine unique expertise, international collaboration and novel genetic information about Australia's unique egg-laying mammals (echidna and platypus) to investigate major aspects of reproduction. This work will address fundamental aspects of sex chromosome biology and advance our understandin ....Evolution and function of mammalian sex chromosomes. Research on iconic Australian mammals has profoundly reshaped our understanding of reproductive biology and sex chromosome evolution. In this project we combine unique expertise, international collaboration and novel genetic information about Australia's unique egg-laying mammals (echidna and platypus) to investigate major aspects of reproduction. This work will address fundamental aspects of sex chromosome biology and advance our understanding of mammalian reproduction. The knowledge gained will have application in captive breeding and conservation of these extraordinary Australian mammals. The project also provides opportunity to train research students in cutting edge molecular biology and informatics.Read moreRead less
Complex trait analyses based on genome-wide approaches. This project aims to develop whole genome approaches that can improve the estimation and prediction power by using information from the dynamic genetic architecture of complex traits (i.e. the changes of genetic characteristics and effects when varying effective population size and genetic backgrounds). The project intends to deliver advanced statistical models, efficient algorithms and design by combining data from close relatives, populat ....Complex trait analyses based on genome-wide approaches. This project aims to develop whole genome approaches that can improve the estimation and prediction power by using information from the dynamic genetic architecture of complex traits (i.e. the changes of genetic characteristics and effects when varying effective population size and genetic backgrounds). The project intends to deliver advanced statistical models, efficient algorithms and design by combining data from close relatives, population samples or from different populations (e.g. multi-ethnicities or multi-breeds). The expected outcome is to better understand the dynamic architecture of complex traits and develop methods with improved power, precision and accuracy in genomic analyses.Read moreRead less
Epigenetics, environment, and evolution. This project will aim to understand how biological information can exist and be passed from one generation to the next without being encoded in the gene sequence, and also how our early environment can modify this so-called "epigenetic" information to alter disease risk.
Structural domains of beta-tubulin and their role in microtubule dynamics and transport. This study aims to obtain a fundamental understanding of how the structural domains of the cytoskeletal protein beta-tubulin are involved in microtubule structures during cell division and vesicular transport. Using gene-editing technology and coupling this with cell biological approaches and high-resolution cell imaging will enable detailed analysis of the role of beta-tubulin domains in these important cel ....Structural domains of beta-tubulin and their role in microtubule dynamics and transport. This study aims to obtain a fundamental understanding of how the structural domains of the cytoskeletal protein beta-tubulin are involved in microtubule structures during cell division and vesicular transport. Using gene-editing technology and coupling this with cell biological approaches and high-resolution cell imaging will enable detailed analysis of the role of beta-tubulin domains in these important cellular processes. The outcomes will include fundamental new knowledge in cell biology and lead to the development of unique biological models that can be used to understand disease.Read moreRead less
Beyond the genome: unravelling the intricacies of epigenetic regulation using the honey bee model. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, provide the interface between genome and environment. Abnormalities in epigenetic regulation lead to cancer and other diseases. The project will be using the alternative phenotypes in honeybees, fertile queens and sterile workers, to understand how dietary factors control conditional gene expression by methylation
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101962
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Functional epigenomics interrogation of DNA methylation dynamics during vertebrate development and evolution. DNA methylation (mC) is an epigenetic signal essential for the maintenance of correct gene expression patterns. To investigate the causal relationships between mC and transcription during vertebrate embryonic development and evolution, this project will perform high-resolution mC profiling at different stages of teleost, amphibian and mammalian development. Highly conserved and syntenic, ....Functional epigenomics interrogation of DNA methylation dynamics during vertebrate development and evolution. DNA methylation (mC) is an epigenetic signal essential for the maintenance of correct gene expression patterns. To investigate the causal relationships between mC and transcription during vertebrate embryonic development and evolution, this project will perform high-resolution mC profiling at different stages of teleost, amphibian and mammalian development. Highly conserved and syntenic, methylated sequences will then be used as baits in proteomics screens to identify novel 5mC 'readers'. The generation of genomic profiles of mC 'readers' and their integration with developmental mC maps will reveal transient epigenome dynamics during vertebrate embryogenesis and provide new insights into the conservation of these crucial developmental mechanisms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100114
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,000.00
Summary
High Throughput Cell Genomics Centre. High throughput cell genomics centre: This project will establish a high throughput cell genomics centre comprising a Fluidigm C1™ Single-Cell AutoPrep and BioMark™ HD system providing researchers with the most innovative approach to single cell and small population analyses. The instruments will enable the unique capability to conduct single cell transcriptome analysis and high throughput gene expression, SNP genotyping and copy number variation analysis as ....High Throughput Cell Genomics Centre. High throughput cell genomics centre: This project will establish a high throughput cell genomics centre comprising a Fluidigm C1™ Single-Cell AutoPrep and BioMark™ HD system providing researchers with the most innovative approach to single cell and small population analyses. The instruments will enable the unique capability to conduct single cell transcriptome analysis and high throughput gene expression, SNP genotyping and copy number variation analysis as well as validation of next generation sequencing data. The information generated is crucial to advancing knowledge in important research fields including infection and immunity, regenerative medicine, immune responses, biomarker discovery, drug discovery, biotechnology and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Epigenetic inheritance: how does it work? This project aims to determine the mechanisms responsible for the inheritance of acquired traits. Sometimes the environment can have effects on the phenotype of not only the exposed individual, but also their children and grandchildren. While it is clear that this can occur, what is not clear is the mechanism by which this happens and the frequency at which it happens. This project will use the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, innovative new techni ....Epigenetic inheritance: how does it work? This project aims to determine the mechanisms responsible for the inheritance of acquired traits. Sometimes the environment can have effects on the phenotype of not only the exposed individual, but also their children and grandchildren. While it is clear that this can occur, what is not clear is the mechanism by which this happens and the frequency at which it happens. This project will use the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, innovative new techniques for the discovery of low abundance RNA molecules, and fluorescence microscopy to analyse structures within the cell nucleus to determine what the molecular mechanism is by which this "transgenerational epigenetic inheritance" occurs. This will have an impact on evolutionary theory, as well as long-term consequences for the understanding of human health and disease, and the impact of a changing climate on agriculture.Read moreRead less
The behaviour-genetics of NAPLAN data: Increasing power for complex analyses. This longitudinal behaviour-genetic study of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results at Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9 will continue to document the influence of genes and environmental factors on individual differences in school achievement. It aims to strengthen the longitudinal aspects of the data, allowing the project to identify sources of stability and change across the seven school years o ....The behaviour-genetics of NAPLAN data: Increasing power for complex analyses. This longitudinal behaviour-genetic study of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results at Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9 will continue to document the influence of genes and environmental factors on individual differences in school achievement. It aims to strengthen the longitudinal aspects of the data, allowing the project to identify sources of stability and change across the seven school years of the NAPLAN. It also aims to increase numbers in the low and high tails of the score distributions, creating a clearer picture of deficits like dyslexia and dyscalculia, and allow for firmer identification of gene-by-environment interactions. The project aims to further illuminate any differential effectiveness of schools and teachers on student outcomes, a topic of high public interest.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100723
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The inheritance of epigenetic information in mammals. This project aims to understand how biological information can be passed from one generation to the next without being encoded in the genes. This may explain questions as diverse as why twins look subtly different and why some families are more likely than others to suffer disease.