Biology

Understanding the fundamentals of the natural systems around us is the key motivation for the biology research taking place at NCI. Researchers are conducting exciting, forward looking investigations into plant biology and agricultural methods, ecological systems, and the fundamentals of molecular biology.

A theoretical model of a specific Calcium Phosphate cluster in water.

29 Nov 2019

Discovering the exquisite details of mineral formation

THE CHALLENGE: We see so much of the world around us at the large scale, but never really think about the complexity taking place at the atomic level. So it is, for example, with bone formation. A

The hormone erythropoietin (red) bound to its receptor (grey). Binding of the hormone causes a rotation of the two receptors transmitting a signal through the membrane. The aim is to understand how the molecules at the receptor/membrane boundary (spheres) are coupled.

Case Studies

24 Jul 2019

Understanding the fundamentals of the natural systems around us is the key motivation for the biology research taking place at NCI. Researchers are conducting exciting, forward looking investigations

Two views of a fossilised weevil side by side, on the left the weevil trapped in amber and obscured by bubbles, on the right visualised using a CT scanner and Drishti technology.

Research Highlights

10 Jan 2019

Unique, extinct fossils under the microscope

Biology

One hundred million years or so ago in present-day Burma, a random assortment of insects, flowers, reptiles and even tiny dinosaurs became trapped in the oozing resin of trees in an ancient forest

A map of the Southern Ocean with orange and blue lines representing the drifting kelp in the ocean.

Research Highlights

30 Jul 2018

Antarctica not so isolated after all

Biology

Earth and Environmental Science

Researchers from The Australian National University, along with international colleagues, have used a combination of ocean modelling and genetic data to transform our understanding of Antarctica's

A green leaf from a wheat plant covered in rough, orange stripes.

Research Highlights

15 Jun 2018

Understanding a devastating wheat disease

Biology

Researchers are using new gene sequencing technology alongside high-performance computing at NCI to understand the genetics of one of the world's most devastating plant diseases: wheat stripe rust

Graham Heinson sits on a stool in the desert in front of computer and other technical scientific equipment.

Research Highlights

15 Feb 2018

Measuring underground electromagnetic fields

Biology

Earth and Environmental Science

Finding minerals in the ground is no longer the gamble of digging and panning for gold it used to be. We now use measurements of electromagnetic fields to discover what's below the surface. One

A dirt road extending past low trees and bushes towards brown, desert hills.

Research Highlights

10 Jan 2018

It's the iconic scent of the Australian bush, and a feature of almost every Aussie backyard, so it's surprising that Australia only plays a small role in the multimillion-dollar global industry of our

A multicoloured tangle of various strands of molecules, represented by balls, ribbons and sticks.

Research Highlights

18 Dec 2017

Drug Design in the 21st Century

Biology

Chemistry

Health

When you ingest medicine from your pharmacist, specific proteins in your body transport them to where they need to go. In particular, some proteins play a key role in moving the drugs in and out of

A forest of Mountain Ash in Victoria, image by ANU's David Blair.

Research Highlights

21 Sep 2017

ANU research find Great Forests National Park a win for Victoria

Biology

Earth and Environmental Science

Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have found the creation of a Great Forest National Park would deliver the best environmental and economic returns to Victoria from its Central

Several rectangular fields of green crops.

Research Highlights

23 Aug 2017

Upgrading the world's most important protein

Biology

The world's most important protein is getting an upgrade. Despite it being the most abundant protein in the world, we are still getting to the roots of how Rubisco, the protein at the heart of

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Biology

Discovering the exquisite details of mineral formation

Biology

Unique, extinct fossils under the microscope

Antarctica not so isolated after all

Understanding a devastating wheat disease

Measuring underground electromagnetic fields

From Koala food to jet fuel

Drug Design in the 21st Century

ANU research find Great Forests National Park a win for Victoria

Upgrading the world's most important protein

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