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ABSTRACT

How do contrasting phenotypes arise from a single genetic blueprint? What influence do environmental factors exert on this intricate process? Is it possible for parental experiences to be transmitted to subsequent generations? Can we utilise epigenetic concepts to elucidate the underlying cellular mechanisms? I will discuss my lab’s research on insect epigenomics, focusing on phenotypic plasticity in eusocial honey bees. I will highlight how dietary inputs influence epigenomic regulation, ultimately redirecting an organism's developmental trajectory. Additionally, I will explore emerging ideas that may help explain the remarkable memory of newly emerged Australian Bogong moths, which enables them to follow the 1000km migratory path of their predecessors and arrive in the same mountain caves they have never visited before. Finally, I will reflect on the thrill of discovery, the vibrant energy, the camaraderie, and the sense of purpose that have defined our successful scientific journey over 30 years. 

BIOGRAPHY

Ryszard Maleszka obtained both his MSc and PhD from the Department of Genetics at the University of Warsaw. He completed his postdoctoral research at the National Research Council in Canada before relocating to Australia in 1987, having received a scholarship from ANU. In 1997, he initiated a successful research project titled “From Molecules to Memory,” which led to landmark findings published in esteemed scientific journals. Maleszka has explored the relationship between genes and phenotype, evolving from single-gene genetics to broader genomics and ultimately to epigenomics. As a pioneer in insect genomics in Australia, he has focused on the epigenetic regulation of phenotypic and behavioural polymorphisms in insects, primarily using honey bees as a model organism. His research group has examined the role of non-genetic factors in the interplay between environmental influences and gene expression. More recently, he has been engaged in sequencing and analysing the genome of the Australian Bogong moth.