Epigenetic modifications (chemical modifications of DNA) function in the regulation of the expression of genes, such as in the cellular memory of biotic and abiotic stress, as well as in the regulation of transposable elements. Under severe stress, it may be advantageous for a plant to allow more rapid changes to its genome, in the hope that some of its progeny will be better adapted to high levels of a given stress, with strong disease pressure linked to a reduction in DNA methylation levels. In collaboration with Prof. Jurriaan Ton and external collaborators, we are trying to understand the impact of long-term biotic stress on genome evolution and plant adaptation though changes in epigenetic modifications.Â
While our initial experiment to exert biotic stress over multiple generations of plants didn't go entirely to plan, through collaborations our data has contributed to a number of high profile publications which have enhanced understanding of the structure and evolution of Arabidopsis centromeres, and the rate of epigenetic change and epigenetic dynamics in the Arabidopsis genome.