Basic and Clinical Genomics Laboratory - Honours projects available in 2009
An Honours project undertaken in this lab would be administered by the Discipline of Physiology.
Professor B.J. Morris and his group are elucidating molecular and cellular mechanisms of ageing and longevity, of gene expression, and of modulation of pre-mRNA splicing. The laboratory is interested in longevity, cardiovascular disease, cancer and development.
Direct inquiries can be made by email to Professor Brian Morris.
- Mechanisms of longevity
Supervisor + contact details:
- Professor Brian Morris
The laboratory is attempting to decipher the molecular pathways that underlie longevity by using siRNA to target key genes that when mutated in other species extend their life. We are using microarray analysis of thousands of gene expressions to see which are upregulated and which are suppressed in primary cultures of fibroblasts as they age. Importantly we are extending our research on the red wine polyphenol resveratrol that we have found suppresses molecular markers of senescence, as well as modulating expression of genes for various pathways that should extend lifespan. Identification of key genes, and thus proteins, that regulate ageing could lead to production of novel pharmaceuticals that may increase the length of human life.
- Pre-mRNA splicing
Supervisor + contact details:
- Professor Brian Morris
It is now known that the number of proteins in the human body (approx. 100,000) greatly exceeds the number of genes (approx. 23,000). Such protein diversity is achieved by alternative splicing of primary mRNA transcripts so as to include or exclude exons selectively. The laboratory has identified several novel proteins that modulate alternative splicing. We are investigating more of the mechanisms involved. In so doing we are studying protein-protein interactions and functions in the nucleus, including subnuclear localization by 3D imaging microscopy, regulation of alternative splicing of primary mRNA transcripts using a range of minigenes, identification of factors in the supraspliceosome, and, in conjunction with Dr Joel Mackay's Lab in SMMBS, specific recognition sequences on RNA by SELEX.
- Publication of student findings:
- Publication is a high priority of the Lab and all previous Honours students have had at least one first-author paper emerge from their research. Of research publications in the past 5 years (2001-2005), 57% (20/35) were in the top 5% of journals (impact factor >3.5), as follows, in which impact factor is shown in bold: J Cell Biol 11.6 (1), Mol Cell Biol 7.8 (1), Diabetes Care 7.1 (1), Hum Mutat 6.8 (1), J Biol Chem 6.4 (2), BioEssays 6.4 (1), Hypertension 5.3 (3), J Hypertens 4.9 (4), J Mol Med 4.3 (2), J Physiol 4.3 (1), Obes Res 3.7 (2), Int J Obes 3.5 (1). Papers by Hons students in the past 4 years: 1 in J Biol Chem by a student who got 1st class Hons and University Medal, 1 by another student in J Hypertens, that attracted a special Editorial, and 1 by a further student in J Hypertens that was amongst the top 22 cited for 2005 for that journal, where in 2005 one publication in J Hypertens was the most highly downloaded article in all of the biomedical science literature and the 5th most-highly cited in science (the others being in astrophysics, particle physics and nonostructure. That publication was on Guidelines for treatment of hypertension. The most-downloaded non-Guidleines article in J Hypertens for 2005 was a single author review by Prof Morris on the molecular basis of ageing.
