Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775587
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,000.00
Summary
Correlating Genomics and Proteomics for Systems Biology: integrating the '-omics'. Acquisition of the infrastructure requested will maintain and extend the expertise developed by researchers in NSW and will allow retention and attraction of leading researchers who can contribute to understanding how genes and proteins interact in the development of the organism - the central focus of systems biology. The enhancement of the facility will allow a better understanding of biomolecular interactions ....Correlating Genomics and Proteomics for Systems Biology: integrating the '-omics'. Acquisition of the infrastructure requested will maintain and extend the expertise developed by researchers in NSW and will allow retention and attraction of leading researchers who can contribute to understanding how genes and proteins interact in the development of the organism - the central focus of systems biology. The enhancement of the facility will allow a better understanding of biomolecular interactions in health and disease, providing both community and national benefits. The focus of this LIEF application is to provide infrastructure platforms for the study of the systems biology of organisms and additional capacity by the facility for the expected increased demand for this technology in this new area. Read moreRead less
Origin of multicellularity in animals: identification and analysis of intercellular signalling pathways in a basal metazoan, the demosponge Reniera. The Reniera genome project is a multi-million dollar collaboration between JGI (US-DOE) and Australian scientists that will see the sequencing of the first Australian marine animal by 2006. This project will significantly advance our understanding of the origins of animals and contribute to the reconstruction of creatures that lived over 600 million ....Origin of multicellularity in animals: identification and analysis of intercellular signalling pathways in a basal metazoan, the demosponge Reniera. The Reniera genome project is a multi-million dollar collaboration between JGI (US-DOE) and Australian scientists that will see the sequencing of the first Australian marine animal by 2006. This project will significantly advance our understanding of the origins of animals and contribute to the reconstruction of creatures that lived over 600 million years ago. A major outcome of this reconstruction will be a fundamental understanding of how cells communicate with each other during the process of development to give rise to the diversity of cell types within multicellular animals. This study will also shed light on what happens when cell communication goes astray, as observed in a range of human malignancies, including cancer. Read moreRead less
Multilevel selection and the integrity of mitochondrial DNA. This project aims to investigate the evolutionary conundrum of how and why organelles remain asexual. The widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction suggests that sex is beneficial to organisms. Yet we all carry an ancient genome that never had sex, the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). Theory predicts that mtDNA should no longer exist, because without sex it accumulates deleterious mutations and cannot accumulate beneficial ones. Yet mt ....Multilevel selection and the integrity of mitochondrial DNA. This project aims to investigate the evolutionary conundrum of how and why organelles remain asexual. The widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction suggests that sex is beneficial to organisms. Yet we all carry an ancient genome that never had sex, the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). Theory predicts that mtDNA should no longer exist, because without sex it accumulates deleterious mutations and cannot accumulate beneficial ones. Yet mtDNA does not suffer mutational meltdown and is shown to adapt. This project will explain how, proposing that the combination of two traits, uniparental inheritance and multiple genomes per cell, make up for the lack of sex. This project expects to provide an explanation for the evolutionary question of what keeps mitochondria healthy, important as mitochondria affect ageing and health.Read moreRead less
Is 'junk DNA' involved in gene editing in human cells. Exciting results suggest that non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), some of which emanate from regions in the human genome traditionally known as “junk DNA”, actually function to regulate protein-coding gene transcription. The goal of this project is to explore the role of ncRNAs on a genome-wide level to determine those proteins involved in this process and to what extent this process results in directed genome editing. Knowledge of the ncRNA pathways m ....Is 'junk DNA' involved in gene editing in human cells. Exciting results suggest that non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), some of which emanate from regions in the human genome traditionally known as “junk DNA”, actually function to regulate protein-coding gene transcription. The goal of this project is to explore the role of ncRNAs on a genome-wide level to determine those proteins involved in this process and to what extent this process results in directed genome editing. Knowledge of the ncRNA pathways may lead to a novel methodology to activate silenced genes as well as determine the role of ncRNAs in genome evolution.Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a ....Improving the efficiency of CRISPR gene editing in cells. Human red blood cells are well-characterised and the globin gene locus is a model system for the study of gene regulation. Gene editing technologies and delivery tools are evolving rapidly and the globin gene locus is the perfect model for gene editing optimisation. This collaboration between UNSW Sydney and CSL aims to bring together our combined expertise and new technologies to develop an optimal platform for genetic modification in a red blood cell line. Simultaneously, this project aims to generate fundamental insights into mechanisms of human gene regulation. The technological and biological outcomes of this project will be of benefit for future gene editing applications.Read moreRead less
Cellular genomic approach to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. This project compares the levels of gene usage in two important immune cell types between patients with multiple sclerosis and people who do not have the disease. It aims to identify the molecular basis for the disease, in order to identify new diagnostic, preventative and treatment options.
Recombination of mitochondrial genomes: what can we learn from chigger mites? This project will bring three benefits to Australia. First, it will enhance Australia's research capacity in the fields of organelle genomics and evolutionary biology. Second, it will yield highly skilled young researchers: a postdoctoral fellow (Shao), a PhD student and two BSc Honours students. Third, it will generate new knowledge about genome recombination in animal mitochondria. Recombination is a fundamental, yet ....Recombination of mitochondrial genomes: what can we learn from chigger mites? This project will bring three benefits to Australia. First, it will enhance Australia's research capacity in the fields of organelle genomics and evolutionary biology. Second, it will yield highly skilled young researchers: a postdoctoral fellow (Shao), a PhD student and two BSc Honours students. Third, it will generate new knowledge about genome recombination in animal mitochondria. Recombination is a fundamental, yet poorly understood issue in mitochondrial genomics and evolutionary biology. Knowledge from this project will also improve our understanding of other important issues that are associated with animal mitochondria; like the mechanisms of mitochondrial disease and ageing, and the evolution of modern humans and other animals.Read moreRead less
Monotreme immune system provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. Genes of immunological importance will be cloned and characterised from the short-beaked echidna with the purpose of investigating the immune system in monotremes, gaining insights into the timing and order of evolutionary separation of the three extant mammalian groups:- the Prototherians (monotremes), the Metatherians (marsupials) and Eutherians (placentals), increasing understanding of the evolution of the verteb ....Monotreme immune system provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. Genes of immunological importance will be cloned and characterised from the short-beaked echidna with the purpose of investigating the immune system in monotremes, gaining insights into the timing and order of evolutionary separation of the three extant mammalian groups:- the Prototherians (monotremes), the Metatherians (marsupials) and Eutherians (placentals), increasing understanding of the evolution of the vertebrate immune system and providing the basis for making immunological reagents which are necessary for studying monotreme diseases (as a precautionary conservation strategy).Read moreRead less
Movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod, Maccullochella ikei Rowland. The project aims to quantify the movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei) at a larval, juvenile, adult and historical level. Most previous studies regarding the life-history of fish species have failed to adopt this holistic approach, with management often based on fragmented information. The project will also provide an ....Movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod, Maccullochella ikei Rowland. The project aims to quantify the movement patterns and habitat utilisation of the endangered eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei) at a larval, juvenile, adult and historical level. Most previous studies regarding the life-history of fish species have failed to adopt this holistic approach, with management often based on fragmented information. The project will also provide an insight into the biology of one of the most poorly understood coastal stream fishes of eastern-Australia and assist in ensuring the conservation of this endangered species, and offer a framework from which future studies into the life history of freshwater fish species worldwide can be based.Read moreRead less
Conservation genetics of the Endangered Oxleyan Pygmy Perch Nannoperca oxleyana. The aim of this study is to determine how isolation of populations of the endangered Oxleyan Pygmy Perch Nannoperca Oxleyana affects their genetic composition. The significance of the study is that it will enhance our ability to conserve the species, and enhance our understanding of the genetics of isolated populations of freshwater fish generally.