Dr Bill Leggat

Postdoctoral Fellow

Bill Leggat

 

 

Research Interests
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Research Interests

Bill developed an interest in the biochemistry and molecular biology of marine symbiosis during his honours and PhD when he studied the giant clam-zooxanthellae symbiosis. In particular he is interested in communication between the symbiotic partners and the uptake and fixation of inorganic carbon and nitrogen. Since 2002 he has been working at the Centre of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland studying the genome of the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. Symbiodinium can be considered the engine that powers coral reefs, these algae and provide up to 95% of the energy that a coral needs to grow, survive and reproduce. Bill, in a collaborative study with researchers at the Centre for Marine Studies and at James Cook University has undertaken what is currently the largest gene sequencing project on zooxanthellae. Of the 3000 genes so far characterised, over half have not been previously found in any other organisms. It has also discovered that dinoflagellates have acquired genes from a variety of organisms, including bacteria and other algae, over the course of their evolution. In fact the gene that is turned on the most under stressful conditions is a bacterial-like gene whose function we know nothing about. This work has been the first step in the development of a cDNA microarray for Symbiodinium which will allow researcher to examine the expression of thousands of genes.

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