The Torii lab studies how plant cells coordinate proliferation and differentiation during organ morphogenesis to generate beautiful, orderly patterns. We aim to understand the molecular and genetic bases of cell-cell communication that specifies organ size, shape, and stomatal patterning through integrated approaches.
Past PMB Seminars
For a schedule of all Plant & Microbial Biology events, seminars, and lectures visit our calendar.
David Pride: Role of viruses in the microbiome
Our laboratory focuses on the role that microbial communities play in human homeostasis, health and disease. We firmly believe that the various microbial components of human ecosystems including bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi are important factors that help determine the natural history of their hosts. Furthermore, their interactions with humans or their interactions with other microbial...
Derek Walsh: Mimicry of plant ribosomes and translational control mechanisms by mammalian poxviruses
Research in our laboratory focuses on two aspects of DNA virus biology: 1) The role of the host translation system during infection by poxviruses. 2) Microtubule regulation and function during herpes simplex virus infection.
Yannick Jacob: Regulation of Chromatin Replication by Histone Variants
We study epigenetics using plants as model systems. Our goals are to understand how the epigenome contributes to basic cellular mechanisms like DNA replication and gene silencing, and also complex processes like developmental transitions, trans-generational inheritance and aging. We are also interested in exploring how the epigenome can be modulated to improve current genome engineering...
Center for Computational Biology Seminar
Integrating Information from Diverse Microscope Images: Learning and Using Generative Models of Cell Organization
Moriah Szpara: Taking stock: the impacts of genetic diversity for herpes simplex virus (HSV)
A variety of viruses infect the human nervous system, often with severe consequences. While vaccines have largely defeated the paralysis caused by polio, other viruses such as rabies, West Nile virus, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) continue to cause neurological infections that require clinical intervention. More than 70% of adults in the United States carry HSV, whether they know it or not. HSV...
Isaac Marck: East Bay Science Cafe - The Science of the Superbloom
The California Floristic Province, with a Mediterranean climate and diverse habitats, is home to numerous endemic plant species and is one of the world’s important botanical hotspots. Isaac Marck will discuss the diverse groups, geographical oddities, and ongoing botanical exploration in the California Floristic Province.
Dr. Michael Shapira: Microbiomes in Health and Disease
What do we know about our internal microbial communities – their roles in healthy living and disease? Michael Shapira will explore some intriguing ideas about the contribution of our internal flora and fauna to evolution.
Christine Queitsch: Plant gene regulation and complex traits genetics
Our research focuses on two related fields: the genetic architecture of complex traits and the role of gene regulation and protein folding in generating heritable phenotypic variation. We advance complex trait genetics by ascertaining uncharacterized sequence variation and by resolving the relative importance of additive variation and epistasis in complex traits. Lastly, to improve the genotype-...