Molecular Genetics and Plant Genomics

Arabidopsis

Microarray

Cotton

Polyploidy (whole genome duplication) is an evolutionary force in many plants and some animals. We are interested in understanding (1) the evolutionary consequences of polyploidy, (2) the genetic and epigenetic regulation of polyploidy, and (3) the genetic control of fiber cell development in cotton polyploids. Using genetic, biochemical, and computational approaches, we address fundamental questions concerning the fate of duplicate genes and genomes in Arabidopsis, Brassica, and cotton. Our long-term goal is to improve future applications and public acceptance of biotechnology.