Our lab is interested in understanding the basis of variation within a species and how the information content of the genome is regulated. Our studies utilize maize as a model system for studying the regulation of gene expression in a large, complex genome. A large portion of our research efforts are dedicated towards understanding the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in maize. Our lab uses both forward and reverse genetic tools to characterize the components of epigenetic inheritance. Specifically, recent work has shed light upon the epigenetic variability in between maize inbreds and the molecular mechanisms of imprinting. We are also using a combination of microarray expression profiling and allele-specific expression profiling to study regulatory variation for gene expression among inbred maize lines and how this variation combines in a heterozygote. These studies help us to understand the basis for variation within a species and how variation for gene expression levels occurs. It has also helped to provide a framework for considering the phenomena of heterosis in maize. Other projects in the lab include studying the basis for aneuploidy syndromes and high-throughput mapping of maize mutant stocks.

University of Minnesota Main Page