Genes in conflict in the social insects. Queen bees mate with 20 males, so it is in each male's interests to father female offspring that are more likely to become queens or reproductive workers. In contrast, queens want all workers to be sterile. This project will determine if some males pass on genes to offspring that have been modified so that their daughters are likely to become reproductive.
Adaptive plasticity and evolution: linking the genotype and the environment to understand phenotypic evolution and expression. Different environmental signals alter when and where specific genes are expressed, thereby altering the phenotype. This project will examine the differences in the timing and use of genes in response to cues of competition that result in differences between the sexes. This will increase our understanding of the role of genes in sexual evolution.
Evolution of vascular tissue in land plants. This project will investigate genetic mechanisms of secondary cell wall thickening in a new genetic model representing an ancient plant lineage. This research will reveal the evolutionary origin of plant vascular tissue; a significant innovation that allowed increased size of plants and the origin of wood.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100214
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Re-evaluating evolution by examining developmental plasticity in response to the social environment. Our understanding of trait evolution is derived from our assumption that traits are a signal of male quality as they are costly to produce. The project will integrate this concept with a new theory stating that males shift their development to exploit the weaknesses of rivals; thereby leading to a more holistic understanding of evolution.
Body size in the 21st century: integrating evolution, economics and culture. This project will study how evolution and biology interact with culture and economics to shape two important aspects of our world and our lives: the unfolding global obesity crisis and the complex, nuanced judgments people make about body shape. This research will inform the public health issues of obesity and body image problems.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100805
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$382,656.00
Summary
Phylogenetic methods for genome surveillance of microbial pathogens. This project aims to develop phylogenetic approaches to harness the potential evolution of bacterial and virus pathogens data and to improve early detection of infectious outbreaks. Genome surveillance programs consist in routine sequencing of particular organisms to track their evolution over time. Such programs currently exist for important bacterial and virus pathogens. This project expects to develop computational methods t ....Phylogenetic methods for genome surveillance of microbial pathogens. This project aims to develop phylogenetic approaches to harness the potential evolution of bacterial and virus pathogens data and to improve early detection of infectious outbreaks. Genome surveillance programs consist in routine sequencing of particular organisms to track their evolution over time. Such programs currently exist for important bacterial and virus pathogens. This project expects to develop computational methods to improve our understanding of pathogen outbreak emergence and infectious spread using genome data. This project will expand our knowledge base and research capability in the evolution and epidemiology of infectious agents, and aid in the prevention and control strategies of infectious disease benefiting the research priorities of food and health.Read moreRead less
Environmentally Induced Non-genetic Effects on Ageing and Fitness over Multi-generations and the Evolution of Life-history Trade-offs. This project will study trade-offs among growth, lifespan and fecundity, and test the following three predictions by employing a short-lived fish model and cutting-edge statistical and computational modelling. First, different dietary conditions not only affect the fitness of the organism, but also that of subsequent generations. Second, different nutritional eff ....Environmentally Induced Non-genetic Effects on Ageing and Fitness over Multi-generations and the Evolution of Life-history Trade-offs. This project will study trade-offs among growth, lifespan and fecundity, and test the following three predictions by employing a short-lived fish model and cutting-edge statistical and computational modelling. First, different dietary conditions not only affect the fitness of the organism, but also that of subsequent generations. Second, different nutritional effects and transgenerational effects on fitness-related traits are underpinned by epigenetic (or non-genetic) modifications. Third, such epigenetic modifications and their inheritance influence the evolution of life-history trade-offs. This project will link the emerging field of epigenetics with evolutionary theory, and reveal mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Read moreRead less
Evolution of defensive and predatory venom in cone snails. This project aims to determine the molecular and cellular origins and mechanisms regulating venom production and release to establish how defensive venoms evolved in cone snails. Cone snails possess a remarkable ability to rapidly and reversibly switch between separate venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, implying that these are separately evolved and regulated mechanisms. The investigators hypothesise that defensive ven ....Evolution of defensive and predatory venom in cone snails. This project aims to determine the molecular and cellular origins and mechanisms regulating venom production and release to establish how defensive venoms evolved in cone snails. Cone snails possess a remarkable ability to rapidly and reversibly switch between separate venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, implying that these are separately evolved and regulated mechanisms. The investigators hypothesise that defensive venoms, originally evolved in the proximal venom duct to protect against threats such as cephalopod and fish predation, have been repurposed in the proximal duct to allow predators to become prey, facilitating the switch from worm to mollusc and fish hunting. The project aims to show the broad implications for the evolution of venoms in animals and discover the regulatory mechanisms driving venom peptide expression.Read moreRead less
Increased phenotypic variation via evolutionarily novel stressors. This project aims to understand how evolutionarily novel stressors such as obesogenic diets induce phenotypic variation in organismal traits. Such increased phenotypic variation is traditionally thought to be genetic. However, growing evidence points to non-genetic mechanisms that are capable of transgenerational inheritance. The project will use complementary approaches to study how novel stressors generate phenotypic variation ....Increased phenotypic variation via evolutionarily novel stressors. This project aims to understand how evolutionarily novel stressors such as obesogenic diets induce phenotypic variation in organismal traits. Such increased phenotypic variation is traditionally thought to be genetic. However, growing evidence points to non-genetic mechanisms that are capable of transgenerational inheritance. The project will use complementary approaches to study how novel stressors generate phenotypic variation. The project aims to deliver a more integrated evolutionary perspective not only on phenotypic evolution and the maintenance of variation, but also on the transgenerational cost of obesity.Read moreRead less
Understanding evolution in natural systems using robotic models. This project aims to build biologically-inspired robotic and computational systems, and then modify these in ways which are either not possible, or have not yet occurred in natural systems. A comparison of these two systems will then allow a quantitative understanding of how well optimised biological structures are and where the limitations to optimisation lie. Expected outcomes include advancing the understanding of evolutionary p ....Understanding evolution in natural systems using robotic models. This project aims to build biologically-inspired robotic and computational systems, and then modify these in ways which are either not possible, or have not yet occurred in natural systems. A comparison of these two systems will then allow a quantitative understanding of how well optimised biological structures are and where the limitations to optimisation lie. Expected outcomes include advancing the understanding of evolutionary processes, and will provide significant benefits, such as aiding the manufacture of efficient autonomous robots.Read moreRead less