Hobart

Seminar Abstract

Tuesday 8 September 2009, 11.30am (Tas time)
CSIRO Auditorium, Hobart

Sharon A Appleyard
Molecular Geneticist
Food Futures Flagship, CSIRO
Hobart

Shellfish and SNPchips – outcomes and highlights of my career development program

Abalone culture world wide has recently been strengthened with the development of selective breeding programs. The success of these programs depends on pedigreed abalone, the maintenance and improvement of genetic diversity in farm stocks and the uptake of existing and new molecular technologies. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are relatively new molecular markers that offer the potential to reveal genetic variation between individuals at a level not previously available. SNPs are currently implemented in livestock and some finfish species to enhance selective breeding. Most of these industries however are based on a single species, unlike the abalone industry that has numerous Haliotis species under cultivation.

This seminar will present the outcomes and highlights of my recent capability training visit at AgResearch. AgResearch is the New Zealand institute leading the development and application of the new 50K Ovine (sheep) SNP chip for uptake in the sheep breeding industry. My development program consisted of exposure to, and developing an understanding of, SNP discovery and genotyping as undertaken in high value livestock industries. My aim was to then ascertain a) if a SNP approach could be undertaken in abalone b) get feedback on experimental SNP approaches and designs while working alongside a world recognised research group in this area and c) progress initial SNP discovery in multiple abalone species with a long term view to developing a ‘Haliotis spp’ SNPchip.

Ben Maynard
Molecular Geneticist
Food Futures Flagship, CSIRO
Hobart

Microarray analysis and salmonid research in Scotland - capability development program 2009

Microarrays are small glass supports capable of displaying DNA probes encoding an organism’s entire complement of functional proteins. They enable genome-wide analyses of transcript regulation in response to experimental conditions. The application of array technology to aquaculture species for research and commercial purposes is increasing. Following initial development in Canada and the UK, an international consortium has created a 3rd generation salmonid microarray platform in partnership with Agilent Technologies. As part of CSIRO’s 2009 Capability Development Program, I recently travelled to Spain to learn about microarray design and analysis. I also visited institutions in Scotland involved with the new microarray consortium and salmonid molecular research. The knowledge and contacts gained during the program have benefited our team’s research into an Atlantic salmon vaccine against Amoebic Gill Disease. These outcomes, as well as future research and collaboration opportunities, will be presented during this seminar.

Seminar recording

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Location:
CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade, Hobart

For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
To schedule a seminar, contact:
Clothilde Langlais, (Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5399
Natalie Kelly, (Biology/Modelling seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research 0438 452 483
Jillian Enraght-Moony, (seminar administrator) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5320
Communications Manager, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC (03) 6226 2265
Margaret Hazelwood, Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies (IASOS) University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2971

Last updated 8/12/09