Science, Technology and Engineering

Department of Genetics

Research Areas

Dr Chee-Kai Chan: Application of nuclear targeting signals to enhance gene delivery for effective gene therapy; gene delivery of Bacterial Artifical Chromosomes; gene therapy of mitochondrial disease.

Dr Graham Flannery: Early differentiation in neoplastic tissues: studying some of the factors influencing arrested differentiation in human cancer cells and the induction of further differentiation using chemical agents. Immune response to cancer: examining the characteristics of effector cells (in particular, natural killer cells), factors affecting target cell lysis and the role of `cell suicide' or apoptosis. Examination of diversity in genes controlling immune responses - their role in population genetic studies (e.g. Indonesian-Australian population affinities with Drs White and Mitchell). Pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases: investigating the nature of the immunological processes which lead to tissue damage in diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr John Mitchell:

Human population structure and variation.

My research focuses on the use of genetic polymorphisms to understand human history; including our migrations and contemporary relationships and also to better understand diseases due to dynamic mutations, such as fragile X syndrome.  In collaboration with Victorian Police Forensic Services we are investigating improved protocols for use of DNA to generate profiles from crime scene samples as well as improved population databases.

Dr Neil Murray: Genetic management of captive and introduced populations of endangered species (Helmeted Honeyeater, Orange-bellied Parrot and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot). Genetics and conservation priority: how different do populations have to be before they should qualify as separate targets for conservation? Molecular ecology of animal populations, especially measuring gene flow in fragmented populations.

Dr Yvonne Parsons: Investigating the genetic basis of quantitative variation within and between populations using molecular genetic techniques: e.g. Adaptation to environmental stress: QTL mapping of Heavy metal tolerance in Chironomids; Mobile genetic elements in sediment microbial communities.  Genetic profiling for aquatic biomonitoring: DNA barcoding for species identification; Microbial bioassays for heavy metal pollution. 

Dr Warwick Grant : Nematodes are the focus of research in our laboratory, either as targets for the development of novel antiparasite drugs, as potential agents for the biocontrol of introduced species or as model organisms for the investigation of basic biological processes such as cancer and ageing using a variety of molecular and traditional genetic methods. Honours and postgraduate projects in these areas are available.

Dr Mike Westerman: Evolution of Dasyurid marsupials and bandicoots using mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Reconstructing macropod relationships: a molecular approach. Population studies on endangered Sminthopsis and Potoroid species using microsatellite markers and d-loop sequences. Inter-relationships of Diprotodontid marsupials. Phylogeny and evolution of major clades of birds.

Dr Neville White: Evidence for genetic links between the populations of eastern Indonesia and the Aboriginal people of northern Australia (with Drs Mitchell and Flannery). Demographic genetics and genetic diversity among the Yolngu and their neighbours in eastern Arnhem Land. Dietary changes and their health implications in a remote Aboriginal community. Nutritional awareness programs for homeland centre schools in north-east Arnhem Land (with Yirrkala Homelands School, Yirrkala). Medical anthropology research with the Yolngu (with Dr AJ Polakiewicz). Traditional ecological knowledge (including `ethnozoology' and `ethnobotany') and indigenous natural and cultural resource management.