My laboratory is using a functional genomics approach in conjunctions with other molecular, biochemical, and genetic tools to investigate fungal secondary metabolism. Emphasis is on using cDNA micro arrays and a recently developed EST database to evaluate gene transcription profiles in order to discover and better understand the general regulatory networks that control mycotoxin production in the model organism Fusarium sporotrichioides. The synthesis of mycotoxins by this fungal pathogen greatly enhances the ability of this organism to infect plant hosts. Such infections not only reduce the quality and yields of important food crops but the consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated grains is harmful to both humans and animals. Thus, the main objective of this research is to identify new molecular targets, which can be used to develop strategies to prevent the production of these mycotoxins. In doing so this research will also increase the understanding and basic knowledge of genetic, molecular, and biochemical controls that mediate chemical and morphological differentiation in eukaryotic organisms.

GENE 301: Genetics (4 hr with lab). Fundamental principles of genetics: physical basis of Mendelian inheritance, expression and interaction of genes, linkage, sex linkage, biochemical nature of genetic material and mutation.