Research School of Biology
The ANU Research School of Biology (RSB) carries out research in a wide range of biological and biomedical sciences and oversees the University's Biology curriculum, with a diverse offering of courses across both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Thursday, 07 Aug 2025
Three early-career ANU academics have been honoured with ACT Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.
Wednesday, 23 Jul 2025
What if you only had three minutes to explain your life’s work to an audience? That’s the challenge ANU PhD scholars took on at the Three Minute Thesis final.
29 Aug 2025 | 12 - 1:30pm
Joint ANU and CSIRO SynBio Seminar - Using the power of nature to solve challenging problems in medicine, manufacturing, agri-foods and the environment
Dr Allen (Zhengyu) Wen - Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) threatens food security for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our research identified two genetic solutions: a mutated peroxisomal peptidase that blocks viral invagination and a eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E mutant that stops viral protein translation while preserving plant growth. Using gene editing, we introduced these traits into elite maize varieties. In Kenyan trials, edited lines showed complete MLN resistance with no yield loss, offering a major advance for protecting millions of farmers’ livelihoods.Dr Thomas Vanhercke - Plant synthetic biology and metabolic engineering enable precise redesign of plant genomes for improved traits and new functions. For over 20 years, the CSIRO Synthetic Traits group has led in applying advanced genetics to oil crops. This presentation highlights omega-3 transgenic canola as a real-world example delivering health benefits and addressing global supply challenges. I’ll also outline emerging developments such as high-throughput in-planta library screening, advanced RNAi, and novel complex traits pushing plant synthetic biology’s limits.