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Joel Shore

Picture of Joel Shore
Joel Shore
Professor Emeritus

Department

Biology

Research Focus

Research in my lab focuses on the molecular genetics and evolution of plant breeding systems although we have carried out studies of plant population genetics and plant/butterfly interactions. We have continued to study the genetics and evolution of breeding systems in a Neotropical clade within the Passifloraceae (formerly called the Turneraceae). In the genus Turnera, a majority of species are distylous and strongly self-incompatible, while other species are self-compatible often having anthers and stigmas in close proximity, leading to high rates of self-fertilization. We have been working towards a molecular genetic dissection of the distyly (S) locus in Turnera species. We have constructed high resolution genetic maps of the S-locus region using recombination and deletion mapping; assembled and sequenced a set of BAC clones across both the recessive and dominant haplotypes; sequenced the transcriptome of styles and stamens to discover differentially expressed genes; have developed a genetic transformation system in Turnera that will allow us to test the function of candidate genes for distyly; and we are currently sequencing the genome of one Turnera species. We have discovered a number of candidate genes using these methods and are currently testing their function.

Sub-Disciplines

Evolutionary Biology, Population Biology, Genetics, Plant Biology

Research Areas

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
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