1. Plant Tissue Culture (PTC)

PTC
is a vital important part of plant biotechnology, as the establishment of highly
efficient regeneration of the target material is required as the basis for a
high frequency of transformation. The target materials for genetic
transformation include immature inflorescences, immature embryos, mature embryos,
anthers and protoplasts.
2. Genetic Transformation

In
order to obtain high transformation frequency, transformation conditions need
to be optimised to reduce the damage to targeted explants during the
transformation process. Several transformation methods have been applied,
including particle bombardment, tissue electroporation and Agrobacterium mediated transformation
3. Molecular Analysis

Molecular
studies of transgenic plants include the development of suitable selection
systems, the molecular confirmation of transgenic plants, the expression, stability
and heritability of the transgenes and the correct functional properties of
transgene expression products.
4. Gene Cloning and Genomics

Diploid
wheat, wheat mutants, and transgenic wheat are important genetic resources for providing
useful genes that determine quality and disease resistance. We are therefore cloning
genes from wheat and related species and carrying out functional genomics
studies on these materials.
5. Protein Analysis

Protein
analysis can be used to determine the expression of transgenes in the target
materials and their progeny. We also analyse wheat varieties by SDS-PAGE and
other methods to determine their compositions of proteins which contribute to
quality in order to select suitable candidates for future genetic engineering.
6. Field Trials

Transgenic
lines of genetically modified bread and pasta wheats are grown in the field to determine
their pattern of transgene stability and heritability and to evaluate the potential
for the successful application of transformation technology in breeding
programmes.
7. Healthy Food and Transgenic Pharmaceutics
To
improve the tissue culture and transformation conditions in order to transform plants
with genes of interest including those encoding products which are the key
components of healthy food and pharmaceutics.
8. Computing / Bioinformatics
To use
bioinformatics to study functional genomics and to model protein structure.
Research Projects
| Projects based in China |
| Guangyuan He |
Establishment of the efficient systems for wheat genetic transformation. The key technologies of R
& D programme of the MOST. |
| Guangyuan He |
Application of genetic
engineering to wheat quality breeding programme. Funded by Key research
programme of the MoE. |
| Guangyuan He |
Wheat quality
improvement by genetic engineering. Grant from the outstanding talent programme
of the MoE. |
| Guangyuan He |
Cloning and
expression of wheat storage protein related genes. High tech research and
development programme (863) of the MoST. |
| Guangyuan He |
Identification and
cloning of the tissue-specific promoter from Triticum crops. Funded by
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). |
| Guangyuan He |
Functional studies on
the wheat quality related genes. Key basic science research programme (973) of
the MoST. |
| International Projects |
| Nongnong Shi |
RI Fellowship (UK), 2001-2002 |
| Mingjie Chen |
RI Fellowship (UK), 2003-2004 |
| Changhe Zhang |
Portugal Research Fellowship (Portugal), 2003-2004 |
| Jie Luo |
Chinese Scholarship (UK), 2003-2004 |
Laboratory Publications