The evolution of recombination cold spots during speciation. In the absence of geographic barriers, sexual reproduction between diverging populations is the greatest obstacle to the formation of new species. As diverging populations accumulate differences by the action of natural selection, genetic recombination resulting from sexual reproduction eliminates them. As a consequence, cases of speciation with gene flow such as sympatric or parapatric speciation have been considered improbable. This ....The evolution of recombination cold spots during speciation. In the absence of geographic barriers, sexual reproduction between diverging populations is the greatest obstacle to the formation of new species. As diverging populations accumulate differences by the action of natural selection, genetic recombination resulting from sexual reproduction eliminates them. As a consequence, cases of speciation with gene flow such as sympatric or parapatric speciation have been considered improbable. This project will investigate novel hypotheses for the formation of new species in the face of gene flow, and will evaluate empirically their predictions using the groundsel Senecio lautus. Results derived from this investigation will provide novel insights into the old riddle of speciation with gene flow.Read moreRead less
The genetics of replicated evolution. Using an Australian daisy, the project will study how natural selection creates repeated patterns of evolution at the gene and morphology levels. The project will provide students with training at the interface of genomics, ecology, and evolution.
Discovering sex determining genes in a reptile with genetic and environmental sex determination. Reptile sex determination is particularly fascinating because it is triggered either by genes on sex chromosomes or by the nest temperature. This project will identify and characterise candidate sex determining genes in a model reptile to understand how genes control sexual differentiation and how they interact with temperature.
Using population resequencing data to investigate the evolutionary role and functional impact of inversion polymorphisms. The project will use population re-sequencing data to generate high resolution haplotype maps of inversion polymorphisms in multiple human populations comprising more than 5,000 individuals. These maps will be used to impute inversion polymorphsisms in genotyped samples of more than 100,000 individuals, facilitated by development of novel algorithms for mapping inversion poly ....Using population resequencing data to investigate the evolutionary role and functional impact of inversion polymorphisms. The project will use population re-sequencing data to generate high resolution haplotype maps of inversion polymorphisms in multiple human populations comprising more than 5,000 individuals. These maps will be used to impute inversion polymorphsisms in genotyped samples of more than 100,000 individuals, facilitated by development of novel algorithms for mapping inversion polymorphism from population sequence data. Finally, the project will use this map to assess the functional impact and evolutionary role of inversions, by assessing their effect on quantitative traits and assessing measures of selection and population differentiation. Read moreRead less
Evaluation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 as a probiotic in livestock using animal nutrition studies and metagenomics. To improve animal production, gene sequencing will unravel how microbial communities in the rumen of sheep and cattle and the gastro intestinal tract of poultry respond to feed quality and probiotic bacteria. The animal nutrition trials will also measure weight gain and feed utilisation efficiency, particularly for nitrogen, protein and energy.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100164
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$167,990.00
Summary
High-throughput DNA sequencing facility at James Cook University. High-throughput DNA sequencing facility: Co-funding for an Illumina MiSeq DNA sequencer and aligned equipment will increase the efficiency of projects by allowing high-throughput sequencing. The outcome of access to this equipment will be wider adoption of powerful sequencing technologies to address questions of national and global importance.
Building better Brassicas: Understanding disease resistance mechanisms across the Brassicaceae. Brassica species are important crops producing cooking oil, vegetables and biofuel, grown in diverse environments with a high economic and export value. Blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans, is the most important disease of brassica crops world-wide. The newly available brassica genome sequence provides the resources to study the co-evolution of this plant and pathogen. This pr ....Building better Brassicas: Understanding disease resistance mechanisms across the Brassicaceae. Brassica species are important crops producing cooking oil, vegetables and biofuel, grown in diverse environments with a high economic and export value. Blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans, is the most important disease of brassica crops world-wide. The newly available brassica genome sequence provides the resources to study the co-evolution of this plant and pathogen. This project will characterise the evolution and conservation of resistance genes in wild and cultivated brassicas, using next-generation sequencing technology, to assess their potential for crop improvement. An understanding of the evolution of genes responsible for resistance will lead to improved plant protection strategies for brassica crops.Read moreRead less