Dylan Langton Email and Phone Number

Plant biotechnology laboratory that focuses on the transgenesis of rice, corn, and sorghum crop. Working with seven other labs across the U.S, the community uses genome editing to modify crops in a way that can prove beneficial to the agriculutral industry and subsequently the people that rely on these food products. Specifically, the current project assigned is the induced male sterility of sorghum plants. Wild-type variants have the capability to self-polinate, creating a free pollen and then… Show more Plant biotechnology laboratory that focuses on the transgenesis of rice, corn, and sorghum crop. Working with seven other labs across the U.S, the community uses genome editing to modify crops in a way that can prove beneficial to the agriculutral industry and subsequently the people that rely on these food products. Specifically, the current project assigned is the induced male sterility of sorghum plants. Wild-type variants have the capability to self-polinate, creating a free pollen and then an embyro from its own genetic code. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and dilivery through agrobacteria, the gene allowing for the pollen to develop and can be disabled, allowing for no pollen or embyro to form. Male sterility allows for easier crossing between sorghum crop, as any embyros that due develop must be due to the pollen of another plant. This provides a direct pipeline to higher yield from crops, as a concept known as hybrid vigor or heterosis, is a phenominon that causes hybrid plants to have enhanced agriculturally based characteristics in comparison to their parents. Show less