Synthetic Biology Approach to Making Drought Tolerant Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences, minor in Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering
Research Advisor
Westenberg, David J.
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences Fellows
Abstract
Droughts all across the globe are causing hardship to crops and creating food shortages. One complication for the soil in the regions with drought is high salt concentrations. Because of osmosis, plants' cells shrivel up, therefore 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
Natalie Holste grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and is now a Junior pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences. She is greatly involved on campus. Some involvement includes being a Lead of the Horticulture subteam of The Solar House Design Team, a euphonium player in the Missouri S&T Wind Symphony, and a new active member of Phi Sigma Rho. 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 for a PhD and settle down into a job doing research.
Presentation Type
OURE Fellows Final Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Award
2016-2017 OURE Fellows recipient
Location
Carver Room
Presentation Date
11 Apr 2016, 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Synthetic Biology Approach to Making Drought Tolerant Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Carver Room
Droughts all across the globe are causing hardship to crops and creating food shortages. One complication for the soil in the regions with drought is high salt concentrations. Because of osmosis, plants' cells shrivel up, therefore 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.
