These have been used to develop markers and transform cereals. Currently the emphasis is on using high throughput genomics techniques for cloning genes involved in several quality characteristics and disease resistance. Research at CRC is aimed at using a variety of techniques to understand the molecular basis of disease resistance. Identification of genes involved in pathogen recognition as well as in the signal transduction pathway will allow plant breeders to produce varieties with more effective and durable resistance to a variety of pathogens. Wheat, barley and flax are being transformed to seek enhanced quality and disease resistance.
Transformation is used as a tool to understand gene function and regulation.
Biological tools such as tagged populations are being created to increase the efficiency of assigning function to candidate genes identified through functional genomics. The genomics effort uses high throughput sequencing, genome mapping, map based cloning, expression profiling and bio-informatics to target genes controlling major disease resistance and quality traits to foster the development of even more advanced cereal biotechnology tools. Assignment of function to newly discovered genes requires biochemical investigation. The protein biochemistry lab strives to do this with the aid of modern and traditional techniques of protein separation, characterization and identification.