Our Research
Introduction:
The Plant Genomics and Computational Biology Research Group, set up by Dr. Andan Zhu in 2017, aims to address the evolutionary processes and molecular mechanisms underlying the diversity of plant traits. Specifically, we integrate computational and functional genomics methods to explore the mechanisms of evolution of mitochondrial complexity, and the formation of important and/or unique horticultural traits in Fragaria and orchid plants.
Current Research Projects:
1) Mechanisms of cytonuclear co-evolution. We investigate the evolutionary questions related to the diversity of plant mitochondrial genome architecture, as well as its relationship with substitution rate, recombination and the evolution of nuclear factors.
2) Evolutionary and functional genomics of polyploid plants and expression divergence. We investigate the roles of dose effects, cis- and trans-regulatory variation, epigenetic modifications on the development of fruit and flower traits in Fragaria (strawberry).
3) Orchid Genomics. We investigate the roles of cytonuclear incompatibility and evolution of energy-related networks on life history transitions in orchids.