Linda Shearwin

My research career has focussed on the identification of genes and their functional characterisation using bioinformatic, molecular and synthetic biology techniques. I have also spent four years teaching and developing curriculum for the Masters in Biotechnology, Biomedical course from the inception of this program in the School of Biological Sciences (2012-2015). Currently in the Laboratory of Comparative Genome Biology, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science, my research centres on the molecular analysis of monotremes, egg-laying mammals which diverged 166 million years ago from other mammals. The platypus and echidna are the only living representatives of this group and as such provide a unique system in which to study mammalian evolution. Research in the Laboratory of Comparative Genome Biology, led by Prof. Frank Grützner, has shown that monotremes have a unique sex determination system not found in other mammals. I am studying the chromosomes and candidate genes which control sex determination in these iconic Australian mammals.