Research Overview

We are interested in determining how phenotypic variation is driven by natural and spontaneous genetic or epigenetic variation. The laboratory focuses on few major research themes.

1) We are interested in the molecular basis and function of spontaneous epialleles. Systematically identifying these epialleles using epigenomic approaches, understanding their patterns of heritability, their interaction with genetic variants and their specific roles in controlling gene expression is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of genome evolution and its effect on phenotypic variation.

2) We are developing a plant evolutionary epigenetic clock to explore how plants respond and migrate in their native environments due to changing climates.

3) We aim to identify the cis-regulatory sequences important for phenotypic variation. We use a combination of molecular genetics, epigenomics and single-cell genomics to identify and functionally test candidate cis-regulatory regions important for crop improvement and natural phenotypic variation. 

Epigenetics

The term "epigenetic" was originally defined to convey how an organism of a single genotype can develop from undifferentiated cells: essentially defining a developmental program. This definition requires that gene expression states are heritable through mitotic cell divisions, but there is growing interest in understanding how gene expression states are heritable through meiotic cell divisions. We are using epigenetic approaches to profile diverse plant populations that have been collected over generational time to identify epialleles and to understand mechanisms important for stable transmission of these epiallelic states.

Epigenomics

Epigenomics describes the use of genome-wide assays to describe biochemical activities associated with certain regions of the genome. These assays include the measurement of transcript abundance, DNA methylation or chromatin modification states and chromatin structure as well as many more features of the genome. Developing assays to reveal new activities associated with the genome are important determinants of predicting the output of sequences on phenotypic variation. 

News & Updates

Plant Center Retreat 2024 Awardees!

November 4, 2024

Congratulations to the Plant Center Retreat 2024 poster winners! Ankush placed 1st in the graduate student section and Ziliang placed 1st in the postdoc/staff section. Nice work!


Hats off to Cullan for winning the NIH training grant two years in a row!

April 5, 2023

Cullan Meyer has been selected by the NIH Genetics training grant committee as a recipient of a 2023-2024 training fellowship! Bravo!


2023 CURO Symposium!

April 4, 2023

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Poster winners at the Plant Center Retreat!

December 14, 2022

Congratulations to Sohyun Bang (3rd) and Mark Minow (2nd) for their poster awards in the student and postdoc competitions at The Plant Center Retreat!


Pablo Mendieta wins a Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant!

December 14, 2022

Congratulation Pablo Mendieta was awarded a Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant from The Plant Center.


Aryan Thakur is a CURO Fellow

December 13, 2022

Aryan Thakur wins Spring 2023 CURO Research Award! Congratulations, Aryan!


Cullan wins NIH Training Grant

June 13, 2022

Cullan Meyer wins a position on the departmental NIH Training Grant for 2022-2023. Congratulations, Cullen!