The sponge genome project and the evolution of multicellularity: using comparative genomics and developmental biology to reconstruct the first animals. Recently the entire genome from a living fossil - a sponge from the Great Barrier Reef - was sequenced (jointly supported by the ARC and US Department of Energy). As this genome is assembled and analysed, many of the fundamental biological processes that underlie the construction and evolution of all animals, including humans, will be revealed. ....The sponge genome project and the evolution of multicellularity: using comparative genomics and developmental biology to reconstruct the first animals. Recently the entire genome from a living fossil - a sponge from the Great Barrier Reef - was sequenced (jointly supported by the ARC and US Department of Energy). As this genome is assembled and analysed, many of the fundamental biological processes that underlie the construction and evolution of all animals, including humans, will be revealed. In addition, sponge genomics will fuel innovations in medicine and biotechnology. Specifically, sponges are renowned for their capacity to synthesise bioactive compounds used in drug development, and high-grade silica used for semi-conductor construction. This project will identify the gene networks controlling these biosynthetic processes.Read moreRead less
Early animal evolution: reconstructing the last common metazoan ancestor through the analysis of developmental and structural genes in sponges. All animals, from the simplest invertebrates to humans, arose from a common ancestor. Reconstruction of this ancestor requires the comparison of metazoan developmental genetic architectures. Here we contribute to this pursuit by studying a phylogenetically and biological appropriate metazoan system - marine sponge embryos and larvae. Using high-throughp ....Early animal evolution: reconstructing the last common metazoan ancestor through the analysis of developmental and structural genes in sponges. All animals, from the simplest invertebrates to humans, arose from a common ancestor. Reconstruction of this ancestor requires the comparison of metazoan developmental genetic architectures. Here we contribute to this pursuit by studying a phylogenetically and biological appropriate metazoan system - marine sponge embryos and larvae. Using high-throughput gene profiling techniques, we will analyse the developmental genetics underlying the sponge body plan. Commonalities shared between sponges and more sophisticated animals are likely to have been present in the "genetic toolkit" of the most ancient metazoan ancestor and, as such, is the genetic foundation from which all animal biodiversity arose.Read moreRead less
Does developmental noise have an epigenetic basis? One's ultimate phenotype is the result of a combination of genotype and environment, and includes a poorly understood component termed ?developmental noise?. The molecular basis of developmental noise remains unknown, but it appears to be established in early development and to be retained for the life of the organism. We propose that the molecular basis of developmental noise is the epigenetic state of the genome. The stochastic nature of th ....Does developmental noise have an epigenetic basis? One's ultimate phenotype is the result of a combination of genotype and environment, and includes a poorly understood component termed ?developmental noise?. The molecular basis of developmental noise remains unknown, but it appears to be established in early development and to be retained for the life of the organism. We propose that the molecular basis of developmental noise is the epigenetic state of the genome. The stochastic nature of the establishment of epigenetic state, combined with its heritability during mitosis, provides all the essential components for developmental noise. If our hypothesis proves correct, our work will have a major impact on the understanding of one of the most basic concepts in genetics.Read moreRead less
Coupling tropical cyclone and climate physics with ocean waves. It is argued that without accounting for the wave effects directly, the physics of large-scale air-sea interactions is inaccurate and incomplete. The project will introduce explicit coupling of large-scale atmospheric and oceanic phenomena with the physics of surface waves which should lead to improved predictions of tropical cyclones and climate.
Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier positi ....Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier position of the Australian South Sea Pearl in the market, but also to move it further ahead. Knowledge of the genetics of pearl formation will advance a range of hatchery and farm practices, such as selective breeding and pearl grafting, which in turn can enhance farm-based operations and the remote communities that support them.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured Sou ....Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured South Sea Pearl through gaining a detailed understanding of how the oyster genetically controls pearl biofabrication - focusing on pearl colour, size and lustre. This information will identify pearl oysters that are a source of high-quality donor mantle tissue and that can be used in selective breeding programs.Read moreRead less
Unsaturation of vapour pressure inside leaves: fundamental, but unknown. This project aims to determine when and to what extent the air inside leaves becomes unsaturated with water vapour. All current interpretation and modelling of leaf gas exchange assumes saturation under all circumstances. Compelling evidence has been obtained that suggests this is not true under moderate air vapour pressure deficits. A novel technique will be employed to assess the water vapour concentration of the air insi ....Unsaturation of vapour pressure inside leaves: fundamental, but unknown. This project aims to determine when and to what extent the air inside leaves becomes unsaturated with water vapour. All current interpretation and modelling of leaf gas exchange assumes saturation under all circumstances. Compelling evidence has been obtained that suggests this is not true under moderate air vapour pressure deficits. A novel technique will be employed to assess the water vapour concentration of the air inside leaves based on stable isotope analysis of carbon dioxide and water vapour exchanged between leaves and air. The project is expected to provide fundamental knowledge about how stomata regulate photosynthesis and water use, with significant implications for modelling vegetation function and for improving the performance of crop plants.Read moreRead less
Modelling Hidden Processes which Drive Economic and Financial Systems. The ability to forecast complex economic systems is crucial to benefit from peak performance, and to prepare for and safeguard against downturn. This project aims to make significant discoveries concerning hidden processes which drive such systems, using rigorous, cutting-edge, flexible econometric methods. Resulting outcomes will be improved understanding of - and ability to forecast - important economic phenomena such as vo ....Modelling Hidden Processes which Drive Economic and Financial Systems. The ability to forecast complex economic systems is crucial to benefit from peak performance, and to prepare for and safeguard against downturn. This project aims to make significant discoveries concerning hidden processes which drive such systems, using rigorous, cutting-edge, flexible econometric methods. Resulting outcomes will be improved understanding of - and ability to forecast - important economic phenomena such as volatility in price series, extremal (risky) behaviour of financial systems, and turning points of the business cycle. Discoveries will be disseminated through published papers and presentations at a major international conference. Ongoing e-research links with France will also be established.Read moreRead less
Metal injection moulding of aluminium. The aim of this project is to develop a metal injection moulding (MIM) system for aluminium by employing point defect engineering to enhance the solid state sintering of aluminium. This study will also incorporate an econometric analysis of the potential for specific aluminium MIM parts. Using this novel, multidisciplinary approach, the market definition and the technology development will occur concurrently. The outcome will be an aluminium MIM system and ....Metal injection moulding of aluminium. The aim of this project is to develop a metal injection moulding (MIM) system for aluminium by employing point defect engineering to enhance the solid state sintering of aluminium. This study will also incorporate an econometric analysis of the potential for specific aluminium MIM parts. Using this novel, multidisciplinary approach, the market definition and the technology development will occur concurrently. The outcome will be an aluminium MIM system and a new business opportunity for a Queensland manufacturing company in a market that is growing at 10-25% per year and is expected to exceed $US1 billion in 2003.Read moreRead less
Financing aged care in Australia: Mitigating fiscal gaps and maintaining intergenerational equity. Aged care has been identified as a significant contributor to the growing fiscal problems predicted for Australian government finances during the next 10 to 20 years. This project will develop the cutting-edge modelling tools needed to allow Australia to make informed decisions about possible reforms in aged care financing. It will create significant national benefits by allowing detailed assessmen ....Financing aged care in Australia: Mitigating fiscal gaps and maintaining intergenerational equity. Aged care has been identified as a significant contributor to the growing fiscal problems predicted for Australian government finances during the next 10 to 20 years. This project will develop the cutting-edge modelling tools needed to allow Australia to make informed decisions about possible reforms in aged care financing. It will create significant national benefits by allowing detailed assessment of the distributional impact of a wide range of possible reforms, including how the outcomes of any policy change will affect disadvantaged sections of our society, whether different generations will be fairly treated, and the impact by gender.Read moreRead less