Secrets of Plant Genomes: Revealed!

Elaine not only knows how to sequence genes of many different organisms, she can take the machines apart and put them back together! Dr. Mardis is co-director of the Washington University GenomeAll the genetic material in the chromosomes of an organism, whether animal, plant, or microbe SequencingA laboratory technique for recording the exact order of nucleotides within a section of DNA Center in St. Louis, Missouri. She got her doctorate in chemistry from the University of Oklahoma and is now an expert in the development of DNADeoxyribonucleic acid; The ladder-like molecule that encodes genetic information, in the form of a double helix held together by bonds between base pairs sequencing technology. Elaine’s career highlights include helping to mapThe relative positions of genes on a DNA molecule the human genome and, just recently, helping to complete the first draft sequence of the maizeThe proper term for the corn plant. Maize was domesticated from the wild teosinte plant in ancient Mexico or corn genome. She is also excited about a new cooperative international project to map 1000 human genomes, from which she hopes to find genetic clues to common diseases. In addition to breaking boards in her tae kwon do class, Elaine’s secret passion is collecting rare toy Hot Wheels cars… but only red Hot Wheels cars! (You can see them on her desk in the video).

Montona is the manager of the Soybean GenomeAll the genetic material in the chromosomes of an organism, whether animal, plant, or microbe Project at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Even though she got her degree in Animal Science in 1999 from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, she soon found herself wooed by the plant kingdom through a soybean research project. Now at Purdue, Montona runs the wet laboratory of the Dr. Scott Jackson lab, where she explores the genomes of soybeans, rice, maizeThe proper term for the corn plant. Maize was domesticated from the wild teosinte plant in ancient Mexico, and sorghum. Montona says, “There are so many things we can do with genomicsThe study of genes and their functions once we know where genes are located. I love that we are all working towards answering the question ‘what is life?’”

As a bioinformaticist, Michael is working in the brave new world of bioinformaticsA relatively new field of science that combines biology with computer science. Bioinformaticists sift through vast quantities of genome data to find genes and determine their function., a relatively new science that is the marriage of computer science and biology. After receiving a degree in microbiology, Michael joined the National Center for GenomeAll the genetic material in the chromosomes of an organism, whether animal, plant, or microbe Resources (NCGR) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There he helped to manage the genome sequence data for ArabidopsisThe first plant to have its genome completely sequenced and mapped. A member of the mustard family, Arabidopsis thaliana, more commonly known as “mouse-eared cress” is a fast growing weed used in countless biological research facilities because of it relatively small and simple genome. thaliana, the first plant to have its genome mapped. Michael quickly realized the importance and power that bioinformatics brings to science and is now pursuing his master’s degree in computer science at the University of New Mexico. Michael is currently working as a software engineer programmer analyst and has contributed to the development of two gigantic genome databases.

Ed is an award-winning young genomeAll the genetic material in the chromosomes of an organism, whether animal, plant, or microbe scientist from Cornell University who has been described as a pioneer and leader in the geneticsThe scientific study of heredity of corn. His research involves developing new tools to pick apart complex genetic traits—that is, traits controlled by many genes together. Some of these traits contribute to diseases, crop yields, or the growth of many organisms. Ed’s specialty is corn. He has made discoveries that will allow breeders to grow corn that is more efficient for bio-fuel production and will help corn adapt to harsher climates. He sees the completion of the maizeThe proper term for the corn plant. Maize was domesticated from the wild teosinte plant in ancient Mexico genome sequence as a huge milestone: “To a biologist, mapping the genome—and sequencingA laboratory technique for recording the exact order of nucleotides within a section of DNA the genome—is like landing on the moon. It’s our first real step into a new world of biology.”

John first studied biology, switched to anthropology, then combinedboth of his interests in order to study ancient plant remains fromarchaeological sites. From this experience, he became fascinated with how plant breeding in ancient cultures impacted the evolutionThe process of change in the inherited traits of organisms from one generation to the next. This change is driven by natural selection. of farmcrops. John is a professor of geneticsThe scientific study of heredity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he studies how genes drive plant development and evolution. John has been especially interested in the mystery of the origin and evolution of maizeThe proper term for the corn plant. Maize was domesticated from the wild teosinte plant in ancient Mexico, or, as we call it, “corn”. He sleuthed out genetic differences between maize and its ancestor, teosinteThe ancient ancestor of modern corn. Teosinte is a grass that originated in Mexico and still grows wild in remote mountain areas of the Sierra Madre., and found two of the genes responsible for the visible difference betweenthese two very different plants. When John is not tracking down genetic mysteries, John likes running, snorkeling in Hawaii, and clowning around with his kids.

A ground-breaking researcher, Sarah Hake is the director of the Plant GeneThe fundamental unit of heredity; a specific sequence of DNA that controls the transmission and expression of one or more hereditary traits Expression Center at the University of California-Berkeley. She is called the “corn lady” and doesn’t mind the nickname. Sarah looks for naturally occurring mutations in corn plants, isolates the genes responsible for them, and then inserts them into other plants. The aim is to figure out which genes do what and how. She says "A single gene can have an incredible effect. It's so fascinating!" Sarah loves mentoring students and young scientists and works hard to provide a good environment for learning and teamwork. Her husband happens to be an organic farmer who loves to bring home mutantAn individual, organism, or new genetic character that arises from a structural change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome plants for Sarah to study.

Cotton is king for Jonathan Wendel. Jonathan is a professor of botany and chair of the Department of Ecology, EvolutionThe process of change in the inherited traits of organisms from one generation to the next. This change is driven by natural selection. and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. His research facility is a rooftop greenhouse on campus that contains Iowa’s largest cotton crop! Jonathan says, "Cotton is the classical botanical mystery. I've always enjoyed studying evolution, and cotton is a fascinating model to study the evolutionary process." His work has uncovered much of the story of cotton’s evolution and his lab full of students and scientists continue to find new answers. "I would be hard pressed to find a better place to do this than here." Jonathan is an avid runner and is halfway through his goal of running a marathon in all 50 states!

An inspiring role model and mentor, Barbara researches molecular geneticsThe scientific study of heredity at the Plant GeneThe fundamental unit of heredity; a specific sequence of DNA that controls the transmission and expression of one or more hereditary traits Expression Center in Albany, California and in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of California–Berkeley. Barbara is the lead scientist for the National Science Foundation’s Potato GenomeAll the genetic material in the chromosomes of an organism, whether animal, plant, or microbe Project. Her specialty is disease resistance in plants and the goal of her lab is to understand plant defense mechanisms so that they can naturally fend off diseases and lower their dependence on herbicides and pesticides. “We’re making headway! We’re starting to understand the genes of the host and the pathogen—and how they interact. And it gives us new information that we never had before.” When Barbara is not in the lab she loves watching baseball (little league to major league), cooking and baking, listening to music (classical, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop), and learning to golf.

Working with plant breeder Jiming Jiang and geneticist John Helgeson, James helped to clone the late blightA plant disease that attacks both potatoes and tomatoes. Late blight is caused by a fungal pathogen or germ that survives from one season to the next in infected potato tubers. resistance gene in a wild Mexican potato plant in 2003. Continuing that work once he earned his doctorate, James now leads the Potato Pathology and GenomicsThe study of genes and their functions Group at the University of Minnesota. “I think we’re living in a very exciting time, and genomics tools have allowed us to access information that we never had before. And, this has really sped up science and things are happening at a much faster pace. And we’re able to do things that we could only dream about 20 years ago.”

After getting his wings in the Air Force, John began a lifelong career hunting down the causes and cures of plant diseases. John is aprofessor of plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a research scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nearingthe end of a rewarding career in plant geneticsThe scientific study of heredity, John added the crowning touch… He led the team that created a blightA plant disease that attacks both potatoes and tomatoes. Late blight is caused by a fungal pathogen or germ that survives from one season to the next in infected potato tubers. resistant potato using a single geneThe fundamental unit of heredity; a specific sequence of DNA that controls the transmission and expression of one or more hereditary traits from a wild Mexican potato plant. But, growing the plant was only half the battle. They had to test it in the real world. Says John, “And the real world in the case of late blight is in Mexico—where the disease organismAny living being capable of reproduction, growth, and maintenance originated and there are all sorts of different strains.” And how did it go? “In the midst of all these other plants killed by the blight, ours were vibrant and green. It was a great moment.” Officially, John became a Professor Emeritus—meaning retired—in 2003. But his colleagues have found out that he is never far away.

Before Jiming Jiang came to work with John Helgeson to hunt down the late blightA plant disease that attacks both potatoes and tomatoes. Late blight is caused by a fungal pathogen or germ that survives from one season to the next in infected potato tubers. resistant geneThe fundamental unit of heredity; a specific sequence of DNA that controls the transmission and expression of one or more hereditary traits, he had never seen a potato plant in his life. “I knew that potato and tomato plants were genetically very close. I knew that tomatoes had fruits and potatoes had tubers, but that’s all I knew.” Jiming started his academic career in China and finished up his doctorate at Kansas State University in 1993. He has been a professor of horticulture and a plant breeder at the University of Wisconsin at Madison since 1995. It took the Helgeson-Jiang team four years to find the late blight resistant gene—and another three years to breed a plant ready for testing. “I was not very confident that we would be able to accomplish our goal within three years. We bumped into all kinds of difficulties. It was actually very dramatic. And we were very lucky.”