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Our lab uses functional genomic approaches to dissect complex traits in maize, biofuel grasses, and grapes. We exploit the natural diversity of these plant genomes to identify the individual nucleotides responsible for complex (quantitative) variation.
Currently, our research focuses on developing germplasm resources for complex trait dissection, using genomics to characterize this diversity, dissect a series of traits (drought tolerance, nitrogen use, basic development, carbon metabolism, vitamin A and E content), and provide software tools for analysis. The tools we are developing may also be used as a template system for other genetics research, including research for other crops, animals, and even human genetics.
Maize Matters
Corn is arguably the most significant crop in the world. In 2009, 817 million metric tons of maize was grown worldwide – far more than any other grain (FAO). It is the primary food source for both humans and livestock in many regions around the globe. Moreover, Maize is incredibly genetically diverse. This astounding diversity has enabled corn to be adapted to vastly different growing regions and purposes. |
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The GBS Methods paper was published May 4th by PLoS One. Check it out here. If you are interested in our weeklong GBS training sessions, details of our next open session will be posted here.
Our three most recent papers are:
- Morrell PL, Buckler ES, Ross-Ibarra J. (2012) Crop genomics: advances and applications. Nature Review Genetics 13:85-96
- Brown P, Upadyayula N, Mahone GS, Tian F, Bradbury PJ, Myles S, Holland JB, Flint-Garcia S, McMullen MD, Buckler ES, Rocheford TR. (2011) Distinct Genetic Architectures for Male and Female Inflorescence Traits of Maize. PLoS Genetics 7(11):e1002383.
- Cook JP, McMullen MD, Holland JB, Tian F, Bradbury PJ, Ross-Ibarra J, Buckler ES, Flint-Garcia S. (2011) Genetic architecture of maize kernel composition in the nested association mapping and inbred association panels. Plant Physiology doi:10.1104/pp.111.185033.
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