biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

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38 DEVELOPMENT OF ROOT ARCHITECTURE Research Interests Genetics and molecular biology are used in order to decipher the way in which genes, biochemicals and environment work together to shape an organism. My philosophy is that scientific progress at the molecular level comes into its own when small molecular changes affect the phenotype of the whole organism. For this reason, my experiments combine a molecular investigation with work on the whole organism in two ways. We investigate the effect that small genetic changes have on the whole organism and we investigate the way in which phenotypic differences are encoded by the genome. The particular system used in the lab is the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Root architecture (the ratio of branching versus linear growth) is influenced by both genes and environment. We aim to understand the contribution of both. Using knockout mutants, we have identified a series of genes that affect the way that roots develop. Honours projects 1. The role of actin in root branching in Arabidopsis thaliana. Analysis of mutants in the lab has shown that root branching patterns are altered when the expression of the gene Severe Depolymerisation of Actin (SDA1) is altered. In this project Dr Jenny Saleeba Room 307, Macleay Building A12 T: (02) 9351 6695 E: jenny.saleeba@sydney. edu.au you will cross SDA1 mutants with lines containing mutations in other actin related genes. The analysis of gene activity and plant root phenotype will be used together to understand how the expression of SDA1 fits into the coordinated expression of actin pathway genes. You will answer the question, what steps in gene expression are required to stabilise actin and allow normal root branching? 2. The role of energy partitioning in root branching in Arabidopsis thaliana. There is a relationship between the ready availability of the sugar-rich products of photosynthesis and a high rate of root branching in A. thaliana. In recent experiments we have discovered that the expression of the AT3G49160 gene, encoding pyruvate kinase, changes the degree to which roots branch. It is hypothesised that pyruvate kinase affects root branching via the peturbation of sugar homeostasis in the plant. In this project you will investigate the way in which the pyruvate kinase gene fits with the pathways of other known gene products in the development of roots.
EVOLUTIONARY AND ECOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGY 39 Research Interests My research focuses on environmental change and how it impacts organisms’ physiology and thereby fitness. The environment is never stable, and organisms must either cope with varying physiological performance or implement some form of regulation. I am particularly interested in the interaction between phenotypic plasticity and adaptation, and the relationship between underlying physiological and molecular mechanism and their ecological and behavioural manifestation. Honours projects Honours projects could be possible within my general research area and students should contact me to discuss particular projects in detail. Professor Frank Seebacher Room 415, Heydon- Laurence Building A08 T: (02) 9351 2779 E: frank.seebacher@ sydney.edu.au
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Page 5 and 6: Why do Honours? 5 Flesh fly by Jess
Page 7 and 8: When does Honours begin? 7 You can
Page 9 and 10: 9 How do I apply? Photo courtesy Di
Page 11 and 12: 11 27 Eddie Holmes Evolutionary gen
Page 13 and 14: BEHAVIOUR AND GENETICS OF SOCIAL IN
Page 15 and 16: REGULATION OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT 15
Page 17 and 18: NUTRIENT BALANCING AND LOCUST PHYSI
Page 19 and 20: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY 19 Research Int
Page 21 and 22: MOLECULAR GENETICS 21 Research Inte
Page 23 and 24: PLANT SYSTEMATICS 23 Research Inter
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Page 30 and 31: 30 MICROBIAL ECOLOGY Research Inter
Page 32 and 33: 32 ANIMAL-PLANT INTERACTIONS Resear
Page 34: 34 REPTILE EVOLUTION AND BEHAVIOURA
Page 37: NUTRITION, INFECTION AND HOST-FITNE
Page 42 and 43: 42 PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Research
Page 44 and 45: 44 URBAN ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY E
Page 46 and 47: 46 ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRESS Re
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Page 50 and 51: 50 CARNIVORE ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION AND
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