Professor David Salt, University of Aberdeen

Professor David Salt of the University of Aberdeen will deliver this seminar entitled "Next Generation Ionomics: Integrating functional, population and ecological genomics".

Understanding how organisms control their ionome or mineral nutrient and trace element composition, would have a significant impact on both plant and human health. Furthermore, associating the genetic determinants that underlie natural ionomics variation with the landscape of the individuals that carry these genotypes will provide insight into the genetic basis of adaptation and speciation.

We have coupled the natural variation present in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice with high-throughput mineral nutrient and trace element profiling to determine the biological significance of connections between an organisms genome and its ionome. We have used PCR-based positional cloning, DNA microarray based approaches, QTL and genome-wide association mapping, and whole genome re-sequencing to identify polymorphic loci defining genes that control the ionome. Association of these loci with the landscape is also starting to reveal the genetic architecture underlying potential adaptation to the environment.

We have developed a publicly searchable online database containing ionomic data on A. thaliana leaf tissue and seed, and rice grain. In A. thaliana this includes over 1,000 accessions and mapping lines, and T-DNA insertion lines defining knockouts in 2,429 genes. In rice this includes over 2,000 rice varieties and mapping lines (www.ionomicshub.org). The database is being updated regularly.

This seminar will take place at The James Hutton Institute Dundee and will be broadcast live to the Aberdeen site.