Understanding gonadal development and disease using a unique model system, the avian embryo. This project will provide information on normal and abnormal gonadal development during embryonic life. The study will aid in the diagnosis and management of humans born with disorders of sexual development and will be useful for sex ratio manipulation in the poultry industry.
Genetic regulation of testis development in the chicken embryo. This project aims to shed light on the genetic control of testis development during embryonic life, using the chicken embryo as a model. The results will have implications for sex ratio manipulation in poultry and for our understanding of sexual disorders in humans.
Investigating a novel factor impacting stem cell development. This project aims to investigate how stem cells are controlled during animal development, by exploring how a specific protein, essential for embryonic development, controls cell fate decisions during the early stages of life. This project expects to generate new knowledge in stem cell biology, embryonic development, and general mechanisms controlling cell fates, using innovative approaches in gene editing and high-throughput imaging. ....Investigating a novel factor impacting stem cell development. This project aims to investigate how stem cells are controlled during animal development, by exploring how a specific protein, essential for embryonic development, controls cell fate decisions during the early stages of life. This project expects to generate new knowledge in stem cell biology, embryonic development, and general mechanisms controlling cell fates, using innovative approaches in gene editing and high-throughput imaging. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced capacity for fundamental stem cell biology in Australia. This should provide significant benefits, such as training of young Australian researchers in frontier technologies, and new knowledge in fundamental aspects of life, including embryonic development.Read moreRead less
Molecular and cellular regulation of ovarian development. This project aims to understand cell fate decisions during ovarian development. While scientists understand the decision to differentiate into a male-specific cell type, they do not understand differentiation into female-specific cell types. This team has identified marker genes that distinguish between different female cell types in the developing ovary, and will analyse the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive the development of ....Molecular and cellular regulation of ovarian development. This project aims to understand cell fate decisions during ovarian development. While scientists understand the decision to differentiate into a male-specific cell type, they do not understand differentiation into female-specific cell types. This team has identified marker genes that distinguish between different female cell types in the developing ovary, and will analyse the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive the development of the ovary. This could provide a deeper understanding of how genes influence cell fate decisions during embryogenesis, and the technologies developed here will be widely applicable in biotechnological research.Read moreRead less
Genetic regulation of avian sex determination. This project aims to enhance our understanding of gonadal sex determination (testis versus ovary development), using innovative genetic approaches that exploit the avian embryo as a model system. The project aims to define the key molecular events regulating gonadal sex determination in birds. It intends to enhance knowledge in the area of cell biology, embryology, and sex determination specifically. Importantly, it will have application to the poul ....Genetic regulation of avian sex determination. This project aims to enhance our understanding of gonadal sex determination (testis versus ovary development), using innovative genetic approaches that exploit the avian embryo as a model system. The project aims to define the key molecular events regulating gonadal sex determination in birds. It intends to enhance knowledge in the area of cell biology, embryology, and sex determination specifically. Importantly, it will have application to the poultry industry. Currently, half of all hatchlings (the undesired sex) are culled. The proposed project intends to illuminate those genetic pathways that can be targeted to produce single-sex lines of birds, a major goal of the multi-billion dollar Australian and global poultry industries.Read moreRead less
Towards a new understanding of the reproductive system. The proposed analysis of the reproductive system will provide important new knowledge of gene regulation driving organ development. The insights and technologies developed in this program will be widely applicable in biotechnological and pharmacogenomic research in Australia and worldwide, and assert Australia's leadership in this area of research.
Chicken and ChIPs; genetic control of avian gonadal development. This project aims to improve our understanding of gonad formation at the genetic level, using unique approaches that exploit the chicken embryo as a model system. Gonad formation during embryonic life provides an excellent model for studying the genetic control of development. The project plans to use innovative methods to study novel and known gonad-determining genes. The project seeks to make a substantial contribution to our und ....Chicken and ChIPs; genetic control of avian gonadal development. This project aims to improve our understanding of gonad formation at the genetic level, using unique approaches that exploit the chicken embryo as a model system. Gonad formation during embryonic life provides an excellent model for studying the genetic control of development. The project plans to use innovative methods to study novel and known gonad-determining genes. The project seeks to make a substantial contribution to our understanding of cell fate decisions, sex determination and gonad development. It also potentially has application to the poultry industry by illuminating those genes and pathways that can be targeted to modulate sex determination in chickens, which is a goal of the industry.Read moreRead less
Defining the impact of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors on the sustainability of
Australia’s Native Marsupials. Environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDs) from introduced plants, pesticides and wastewater are dramatically increasing in the Australian environment. EEDs have been shown to cause dramatic reproductive and developmental abnormalities in vertebrates ranging from fish to humans. This project plans to investigate the impact that these chemicals might have on marsupial devel ....Defining the impact of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors on the sustainability of
Australia’s Native Marsupials. Environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDs) from introduced plants, pesticides and wastewater are dramatically increasing in the Australian environment. EEDs have been shown to cause dramatic reproductive and developmental abnormalities in vertebrates ranging from fish to humans. This project plans to investigate the impact that these chemicals might have on marsupial development. Marsupials have a unique reproductive strategy and how this might affect their ability to respond to EEDs is unknown. This project aims to define the effects of three of the predominant EED risks for marsupials in the Australian environment; estradiol, genistein and atrazine.Read moreRead less
A novel DNA damage repair protein as a regulator of DNA double strand break repair and genome integrity. This project aims to define the function of a novel DNA damage repair protein. These data will provide a better understanding of DNA repair biology and may reveal novel diagnostic and treatment options for many diseases associated with DNA repair defects, including cancer.
Role of Musashi in the regulation of cell cycle proteins. We have identified a protein family that directs cell fate and maintains male fertility. This project will provide new avenues for generation of contraceptives in male animals and to regulate stem cells for production of specialised cell types in biotechnological applications.