go to UNSW home page
UNSW logo Banner
SEARCH
  
UNSW
BABS
Staff Directory
 
Academic
General
Researchers
Search
Staff Directory> Academic

Academic Staff Contact Details

Prof Bill Ballard
 BSc MSc PhD
Professor
Room No:
217
Office:
2nd Flr, Biological Sciences Building
Phone:
9385 2021
Fax:
9385 1483
Email:
 
 
Teaching Responsibilities:
 
Laboratory Website:
Research Description:
Our goal is to link the genotype with the phenotype using comparative genomics, population genetics, biochemical analyses, and life-history trait studies. Currently, our system of choice is the mitochondrial genome in Drosophila. From a biochemical perspective, we study the link between mitochondrial metabolism, aging and disease. A current goal is to determine whether mitochondrial bioenergetic efficiency, reactive oxygen species production and ageing is governed primarily by (i) mitochondrial DNA encoded genes, (ii) nuclear encoded genes that produce proteins imported into the mitochondrion, or (iii) interactions among mitochondrial and nuclear encoded proteins. From an evolutionary perspective we study the selective forces that influence the evolution mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA has been widely employed as an evolutionary marker to study the process of molecular evolution and to infer phylogeographic and phylogenetic patterns.
Selected Publications:
Melvin, R.G. and J.W.O. Ballard. 2006. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production increases with age in Drosophila. Ageing Cell, in press
 
Ballard, J.W.O. 2005. Mini Review: Drosophila simulans as a novel model for studying mitochondrial metabolism and aging. Exp. Gerentol. 40: 763-773.
 
Ballard, J.W.O. and D. M. Rand. 2005. The population biology of mitochondrial DNA and its phylogenetic implications. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.36: 621-642
 
Ballard, J.W.O. and M. C. Whitlock. 2004. The incomplete natural history of mitochondria. Mol. Ecol. 13: 729-744.
Other Professional Activities:
Adjunct Professor, Free Radical and Radiation Biology, University of Iowa, IA, U.S.A (2003-); Faculty of 1000 Reviewer (2002-); National Institute of Health Study Panel, D.C., U.S.A. (declined, 2006); Director, Roy. J. Carver Centre for Comparative Genomics (2001-2004); Associate Editor, Journal of Molecular Evolution (1999-2004); National Institute of Aging R03 Study Panel, D.C., U.S.A. (2004); Lecturer Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, IL, U.S.A. (1995-2001); Adjunct Associate Professor. University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, U.S.A. (1999-2002); Pritzker Chair of Biosystematics, The Field Museum, IL, U.S.A. (1998-2001); US/ Germany/ Japan TriNational Workshops on Molecular Evolution, Munich and Vancouver (1997-1998); National Science Foundation Systematic Biology Panel Member, D.C., U.S.A. (1998).
 


Privacy statement   Copyright and Disclaimer   Site Map   Site Feedback
BABS UNSW Sydney NSW 2052, Telephone: (+61 02) 9385 2029 CRICOS Provider Code 00098G
AUTHORISED BY School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences

Page last updated: Thursday, January 4th, 2007