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Phylogenetics, ancestor sequence reconstruction, protein engineering, bioeconomy

All biological components that are genetically encoded are subject to evolution—selective pressures in their ecological niche. With biochemists and protein engineers, we develop (phylogenetic) tools for detecting what specific changes explain the make-up of a gene or protein; this leads to a fundamental appreciation of genetic determinants of success, but can also be used to design novel, reconstruct ancient variants or even re-run evolution artificially to generate products that perform in conditions for medical, industrial and agricultural applications in the emerging bioeconomy.

  1. Inferring sequence and traits of ancestral genes and proteins
  2. Phylogenetic prospecting of proteins and their variants for protein engineering
Problem: What are the evolutionary drivers of metallo beta-lactamases?
  • Approach: Reconstruction of the enzyme super-family incorporating MBLs and analysis of evolutionary determinants relevant to their antibiotic resistance
  • Contacts: m.boden@uq.edu.au
  • Collaborators: Hugenholtz, Schenk, Soo, Schofield

Analytical tools for sequencing data, omics data integration methods, machine learning

What are the genetic drivers in development and disease?

Bioinformatics methods for understanding transcriptional and epigenetic regulation during mammalian development and in disease is a significant focus. We are relying on technologies such as single-cell RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, in collaboration with developmental, neuroscience and cell biologists at UQ and elsewhere.

  1. Data integration for understanding genetic drivers in development and disease
  2. Statistically analysing and extracting biological meaning from genome-wide data
Problem: What ancestors should be prioritised to identify those with optimal properties?
  • Approach: Experimental data is typically scarce and difficult to juxtapose on phylogenies.

Models of evolution to triangulate successful ancestral catalysts

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Models of development and disease across time and space

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  • projects.1629855044.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2021/08/25 11:30
  • by mikael