>Research

Research in the group is focussed on understanding the evolution of developmental mechanisms in plants. Research is split into two broad areas:

• Evolution of plant development. Meristem function and leaf development are being investigated in non-seed plants, namely bryophytes, lycophytes and monilophytes. This work aims to elucidate the mechanistic basis of shoot development in these groups and to provide insight into how shoot form and function evolved within land plants. In collaboration with Keith Gull's group, we are also carrying out structural and functional investigations into the evolution of cilia development in plants.
• Photosynthetic development. The development of functional chloroplasts is also being studied in an evolutionary context. This work was initiated in the C₄ plant maize but was expanded into Arabidopsis, rice and Physcomitrella patens to investigate the extent to which nuclear regulation of chloroplast development is conserved across land plants. The genetic distinction between C₃ and C₄ leaf development remains an area of interest that is currently being investigated in the context of a program that aims to introduce components of the C₄ machinery into C₃ crops.

To find out more about each topic, please follow the links to the right.