Dabing Zhang

Biography

Rice and barley, the representative grass plants, develop specialized morphology of inflorescence and spikelet, which determines the ultimate yield production. We are using various approaches including forward and reverse genetics, biochemistry, cell biology etc to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying cereal inflorescence and spikelet development. Current research focuses on transcriptional factors such as MADS box genes and the regulatory network involved in the morphogenesis and development of inflorescence and spikelet in rice. Molecular aspects of cereal male reproduction The life cycle of flowering plants alternates between diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte generations. Male gametophytes develop in the anther compartment of the stamen within the flower and require cooperative functional interactions between gametophytic and sporophytic tissues. During the male reproductive development, there are numerous biological events including cell division, differentiation and degeneration of somatic tissues consisting of four concentric cell layers surrounding and supporting reproductive cells as they form mature pollen grains through meiosis and mitosis. To understand the mechanism of cereal male reproduction, we are combining systematic biology (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabonomics) with other approaches such as genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, and structure biology to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying each biological process of male reproduction in rice and barley.

Research Interest

Medicine,Medical Education,Research,etc