Plant Genetics

Candidate gene approaches

Many faculty at BYU do not work on model organisms that have sequenced genomes.  Consequently, we often use genes described in model organism as obvious candidates for manipulation in other plant species.  The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana was the first plant to have its genome fully sequenced.  Molecular biology research using Arabidsopsis mutants have identifed many genes that control various aspects of plant reproduction and development.  Comparison of these identified genes to other crop plants have revealed that much of a gene's function is conserved (or the same) between different species.

Our own research here at BYU has generated anonymous sequences for thousands of cotton, quinoa, and millet genes.  In these sequences, we  are often able to identify other versions of plant development genes (cotton, quinoa, and millet) based on a protein or nucleotide sequence comparison to the genome of Arabidopsis or rice.  Sequences annotated this way are considered 'candidate genes' (i.e. their general function has been established in another plant - often Arabidopsis - yet their specific role in quinoa, for example, has not yet been demonstrated).

Below are list of genes that are being pursued in various food crops.

RGA in quinoa (Udall)

SOS1 in quinoa (Maughan)

FT in quinoa (Coleman)