Graduate Program Affiliations

• Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Group

Preceptor

• Blake Meyers

   

Research

My current research explores the role and targets of small RNA in male reproductive plant systems, specifically maize. In the tassels (male flowers) of corn plants, a massive amount of 21-nt and 24-nt phasiRNAs (phased, secondary interfering RNAs) are produced during the development of the anthers, which mirrors similarly expressed piRNAs in mammal male gonads. We know that mutated proteins involved in the biogenesis pathway of 21-nt phasiRNAs, like dcl5, can cause conditional, temperature-dependent male sterility. We're using spatial transcriptomic methods adapted to small RNA to elucidate where and when the different players in phasiRNA biogenesis are during anther development; we're also using degradome analysis to determine the targets of these phasiRNAs to see how they affect male fertility. My role is in the bioinformatics elements of this project.