Our lab is a plant molecular biology lab which uses the same techniques as those used in forensics, cancer research and genetic disease mapping but for the understanding and improvement of plants. Using molecular biology techniques, we hope to produce two transgenic lines of canola. One in which the expression of a key flowering gene is continuous throughout the entire flowering period, even when ambient temperatures exceed 25C. The second transgenic line will express heat shock proteins in the flowers so as to prevent heat-induced flower abortion. They are responsible for the production of proteins, without which we can not live and function. Mutations within genes required for normal flower formation result in abnormal flower development.
Similar phenotypes result from hormone treatment of inflorescent meristems.
We are interested in manipulating floral identity genes in order to develope male and female sterile lines of canola for subsequent hybrid seed production.