MS Biology - University of Utah
BA Biology - Grinnell College
Research Interest: Evolution in Brassicaceae
I joined the Kellogg Lab in Fall 1999 as one of the non-grass biologists in the group. My interests focus on the economically and geneticallyimportant plant family Brassicaceae, the mustards. The most recognizable and widely eaten species in the family is Brassica oleracea, whose varieties include broccoli, kohlrabi, kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. Other species of Brassicaceae yield canola oil, horseradish, radish and wasabi. In addition to these agriculturally important crop species, Arabidopsis thaliana, another member of the family, is the first plant to have its entire genome sequenced (completed in December 2000).
Although the Brassicaceae have received much attention in the form of genetic research, the family lacks a deeper understanding of its evolutionary history. I hope to remedy this situation by using DNA molecules to determine the history of various groups in the Brassicaceae.
The genera of Brassicaceae are widely distributed throughout the world and present a diversity of form. Despite these facts, all the members of the family exhibit a combination of characters not found elsewhere in the plant kingdom. One component of these character combinations is the septum (dividing wall) between the two halves of mature Brassicaceae fruit. In Lunaria (commonly known as money plant) this septum persists after the seeds of the plant are shed. The stamens of Brassicaceae reveal another novel character due to their configuration (four long stamens alternate with two short ones). In combination these characters diagnose most Brassicaceae. Alternatively, trichomes (minute hairs) are another fascinating character present in some, but not all, Brassicaceae. These hairs help to distinguish many of the species of Brassicaceae from one another.
I am examining questions such as: What are the relationships of the genera of Brassicaceae to one another? How do characters like trichomes change throughout the family Brassicaceae? And, what genes control important taxonomic characters like the septum and the configuration of stamens?
Current Lab Activity:
Dr. Ihsan Al-Shehbaz (Missouri Botanical Garden) and I have completed a comprehensive sampling scheme for genera in the family and have both recently returned from collecting trips to China (Dr. Al-Shehbaz) and the western United States (Mark). Between the two trips, we collected over 50 genera of Brassicaceae. We have also begun to grow some specimens in the greenhouse. The DNA from these specimens is currently being extracted and used in PCR and sequencing reactions.