That's Random

Investigating stochastic patterns in plant development

Our research examines how the balance of genetic and epigenetic regulation contributes to phenotypic variability in plants. We're particularly interested in:

• Regulators of transposon activity
• Epigenetic regulation of transposon silencing
• The effect stress has on transposon activity

Precision Patterns in Petal Pigmentation

Understanding sRNA and epigenetic regulation of flower pigmentation patterns

We study how small RNAs and epigenetic marks create and maintain complex patterns of cell identity in flower pigmentation, using ornamental plants as model systems:

• Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) mechanisms
• sRNA movement and biogenesis in pattern maintenance
• DNA methylation in regulating sRNA stability
• Cross-species conservation of patterning mechanisms