Extension to boost biotechnology research
The SABC's molecular biology facilities are already considered amongst the best in Australia, with the latest equipment such as an upgraded DNA sequencer, a robotic workstation, a real time fluorescence thermal cycler and a transgenic glass house.The state of the art equipment and facilities complement the high level of professional expertise of researchers at the SABC, which conducts applied research into agricultural biotechnology. This involves using molecular approaches to improve commercial livestock and crops or to add value in subsequent processing.Most of the work done at the SABC is on a collaborative basis with other institutions such as Agriculture WA, the Vertebrate Biocontrol Cooperative Research Centre, the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture and the Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Plant Breeding. The SABC is currently used by more than 100 researchers, many of them non-resident users from other institutions.The Centre is already being used at full capacity, according to SABC Director Mike Jones. Which is why the new extension, which will provide additional laboratory space as well as extra office space, a cold room and an instrument room, will be such a crucial boost."In addition to providing for the needs of Murdoch and collaborating organisations, it will enable us to provide extra places for commercial users at the Centre," said Professor Jones.
"We believe that the additional research will directly add value to the agriculture industry in Western Australia."The extension would also ensure that Murdoch and the SABC continued to be at the forefront of research in agricultural biotechnology, which was a rapidly expanding scientific field. "There is major potential for the expansion of both plant and animal biotechnology," he said."In twenty years' time, many major crops will be genetically engineered (transgenic crops). Almost every important agronomic trait can be manipulated. For livestock, advances will be in diagnostics, molecular markers and some transgenic work."There are already many success stories in the field. Professor Jones related examples such the rapid expansion of transgenic crops (maize, soya bean, canola and cotton) in North America, bananas being engineered genetically to contain vaccines to fight disease in third world countries and research into immuno-contraceptive production in subterranean clover to reduce fertility in rabbits.Plant researchers at the SABC have scored world firsts in biotechnology, such as in the production of the first molecular marker for a quality trait in wheat and the first transgenic yellow lupins.Researchers at the Centre are also active in animal biotechnology, researching diagnostic tests for animal parasites and sequencing new viruses.The SABC has applied for funding for a new Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer which uses the latest method to analyse DNA fragments. One of the commercial applications of this equipment would be DNA "fingerprinting" of cattle. This would act as a stamp of quality assurance for beef producers. If beef from one part of Australia was rejected, WA exporters could prove to buyers where their cattle had originated and therefore maintain buyer confidence and vital export markets.Professor Jones believes that commercial users get value for money at the SABC, which at the moment is worth about The Centre also has trained staff and researchers to conduct work on behalf of commercial users. Professor Jones is enthusiastic about the future of biotechnology."It is an exciting time to be in this field. There is a major revolution in molecular biology in progress."Further information
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Professor Mike Jones State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre Telephone (08) 9360 2424 email mgkjones@central.murdoch.edu.au |