Microbial Gene Research

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List of Projects on Microbial Diversity Suitable
for Metagenomics
Australia is one of 12 megadiverse
countries Australia has large numbers of extreme
habitats Developing a microbial gene repository
of extremophilic microbes from Australian
ecosystems is a logical starting point

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The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is a unique deep
subsurface thermal non-volcanic aquifer Worlds
largest underground water reserve (1.7 x 106 km2
8.7 x 1012 m3) 5000 free-flowing bore wells
have been drilled thro 4 sequential interbeded
sedimentary bases of different geological ages
distinct water chemistry. Natural discharge via
mound springs (basin edges)
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Brisbane
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• GAB is a hot bed for microbial colonisation
  adaptation of new types of microbes
• Heated by the earths hot core due to the deep
  nature of the aquifer- rate of 1oC/30 m depth
• gradient to ambient along drain runoff channels
• Aquifer age 2 million yrs (water) but the
  sedimentary bases are up to 400 million old
• pH neutral to 10