Faculty Mentor(s): Drs. Diane Janick-Buckner and Brent Buckner

Research Thesis: The KANADI gene family:  genes involved in leaf surface orientation in the shoot apical meristem of Zea mays.

Research Description: KANADI1 was originally identified in Arabidopsis thaliana as a transcription factor that specified leaf abaxial (bottom) identity in leaf primordia at the level of the shoot apical meristem.  Since then, three more members of the KANADI gene family have been identified in Arabidopsis.  I am working to identify and characterize this gene family in Zea mays, where it is more extensive.  These sequences will later be used as part of a microarray in our collaborator’s lab, in order to study global gene function in the shoot apical meristem.

Expected Date of Graduation: August 2005

Undergraduate Education: BS in Biology from Truman State University

Why did you choose Truman? I have a BS in Biology from Truman, and was able to find a good project to work on and remain at this university.

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri