AGRF talks up genome project spin-off benefits

As the Australian Genome Research Facility continues its drive to get AUD$6 million funding for the sequencing of the wallaby genome, the benefits of participating in a 'big science' project like this are becoming apparent.

For a start, the opportunity to participate in a 'homegrown' sequencing project like this one is an excellent chance to profile Australia's capabilities, according to AGRF director Dr Sue Forrest.

"The possibility of doing a big project with the National Human Genome Research Institute is just so fantastic," she says.

For a start, Forrest says, this project may just open the doors for the AGRF and other Australian researchers to be involved in other major sequencing projects. Australia's participation in the Human Genome Project was minimal, and there haven't been any significant roles in any of the other major genome projects. But this could change if the AGRF can show it's willing and able to get involved.

"This is the way we'd like to work -- to partner with the big labs to do a small part of a big project. And a lot of projects are only looking at 1-2 times coverage these days," says Forrest.

Skimming the cream

But the AGRF is not the only group likely to reap benefits from the wallaby genome project. From a very practical point of view, the CRC for Innovative Dairy Products believes that information on how the tammar wallaby controls lactation could point the way to similar genes in dairy cattle. In particular, researchers at the CRC have an interest in the control of the rate of production and the changes in milk protein composition as the infant wallabies develop.

"Sequencing of the wallaby genome will accelerate our research by providing information on key genes that control lactation," says Dairy CRC CEO Dr Paul Donnelly.

"If we could better understand the genes associated with these unique characteristics, we may be able to discover important related genes in the dairy cow. This could have the potential to increase production efficiency or improve the nutritional characteristics of milk."

Nick Samaras, managing director of Applied Biosystems in Australia, says that from his perspective there are a number of upsides to Australia getting a slice of the sequencing pie. For a start, Applied Biosystems is likely to provide support to the project through its supply of instruments, reagents, consumables, and technical support.

"From a local point of view, it would be local business and sustainability, and growth of our local organisation," he says. "It's also significant as an Australian icon -- it would be quite motivating for our staff at Applied Biosystems if we had a role."

But more broadly than that, "people do see it as a last opportunity for Australia to play a role in genomic research," Samaras says.