The Gardiner Lab - That's Random Project

That's Random

Investigating stochastic patterns in plant development

Many plants exhibit striking stochastic patterns in their development - from variegated leaves to randomly positioned trichomes. These patterns emerge from complex interactions between genetic programs and epigenetic regulation, creating beautiful and functional variability within genetically identical tissues.

Research Questions

How do plants balance genomic stability with the need for genetic diversity through transposable element activity?
- How does the autonomous element (Act1) facilitate non-autonomous TE (dTph1) jumping in petunia line W138?
- What molecular mechanisms control Act1 activity and dTph1 excision frequency?
- How do different petunia genetic backgrounds influence TE activity patterns?
How do environmental factors modulate transposable element activity?
- What specific environmental stresses most significantly impact TE excision frequency in W138?
- How do stress-induced epigenetic changes affect TE mobility?
- Can we identify molecular signatures of stress-responsive TE activation?
How can we apply insights from petunia TE systems to crop improvement?
- Can we develop tools to predictably control TE activity for trait development?
- How might TE systems be engineered to enhance stress adaptation in crops?
- What lessons from petunia's stochastic patterning can inform breeding strategies?