Synthetic Biology Approach to Making Drought Tolerant Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Westenberg, David J.
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences
Abstract
Droughts all across the globe are causing hardship to crops and food shortages in parts of the world. One complication for the soil in the regions with drought is high salt concentrations. Due to osmosis, this can cause the plants' cells to shrivel up, thereby becoming useless and killing the plants. Drought also affects the bacteria that associate with plant roots, particularly nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legume plants. The project would let agriculture be introduced to drier areas of the planet. This will allow more crops to be grown and food to be made because they can survive in high salt conditions. The goal of my project is to develop successful salt tolerant strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum that would protect crops. The success of this project would bring about many positive changes to agriculture and the world.
Biography
Growing up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Natalie Holste attends Missouri S&T as a Sophomore pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences. She is greatly involved on campus. Some involvement includes being the Assistant Health and Safety Officer of The Solar House Team, the Secretary of Eco Miners, a member of the Society of Women Engineers and several other organizations. In her free time, Ms. Holste loves to play badminton and the piano. After receiving her Bachelor of Science, she plans to attend graduate school and settle down into a job doing research.
Presentation Type
OURE Fellows Proposal Oral Applicant
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Meramec Room
Presentation Date
15 Apr 2015, 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Synthetic Biology Approach to Making Drought Tolerant Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Meramec Room
Droughts all across the globe are causing hardship to crops and food shortages in parts of the world. One complication for the soil in the regions with drought is high salt concentrations. Due to osmosis, this can cause the plants' cells to shrivel up, thereby becoming useless and killing the plants. Drought also affects the bacteria that associate with plant roots, particularly nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legume plants. The project would let agriculture be introduced to drier areas of the planet. This will allow more crops to be grown and food to be made because they can survive in high salt conditions. The goal of my project is to develop successful salt tolerant strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum that would protect crops. The success of this project would bring about many positive changes to agriculture and the world.
