Sasha Strode
Mary Gates Research Scholar, Winter 2024
Research Project: Unraveling the Genetic Basis of Pollination Transition in Thalictrum thalictroides: Insights into Plant Adaptation and Conservation
Research Project Description: This project delves into the genetic mechanisms guiding the transition from insect to wind pollination in Thalictrum thalictroides, a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. With flowering plants originally relying on insects for pollination, understanding this transition becomes pivotal amidst declining pollinator populations. Thalictrum, having transitioned from insect to wind pollination multiple times, serves as an ideal model. The carpels, the organs responsible for seed and fruit production, exhibit distinct morphologies in insect and wind-pollinated species, with longer stigmas prevalent in the latter. By investigating the candidate genes STY1/2 using virus-mediated gene manipulation techniques, significant phenotypic changes in carpel development were observed. These findings enhance our understanding of plant adaptation to environmental shifts and hold implications for conservation and sustainable agriculture. They also shed light on the potential engineering of wind-pollinated plants, vital for addressing challenges posed by dwindling pollinator populations and a changing climate.
What advice do you have for future Mary Gates Research applicants?
I would advise others to ask lots of questions and make sure to stay organized in your data collection throughout your research. Take your time finding a project that interests you, as it will make your research experience much more rewarding.
What have you learned throughout your research project?
My experience in the Di Stilio Lab has deepened my commitment to environmental conservation and tackling the complexities of a shifting climate. A year of immersing myself in research papers, data analysis, and preparing for presentations has bolstered my scientific background and granted me perspective on the amount of effort and precision required to experiment with transgenics. I am very grateful to the Mary Gates Endowment for their support as they have kept me motivated and focused on my research.