The Plant Functional Genomics Laboratory is interested in studying the develpmental aspects of flowering in rice. In particular, regulatory genes controlling flower initiation and differentiation are studied using molecular and genetic approaches. We have isolated over 20 MADS box genes which are transcription factors controlling many aspects of plant development. Other genes that are involved in flower development are also being studied.

This lab is also generating T-DNA insertional mutant lines of rice in order to identify and investigate a large number of genes from monocots. The T-DNA carries a promoterless GUS gene, and therefore insertion within a gene would result in activation of the reporter gene. In this way, we have identified several mutants as well as a number of promoters expressed in a tissue specifically or developmentally regulated manner.

These projects are funded by the National Research Laboratory program and the 21st Century Frontier program of the Korean government and POSCO.