Weng's lab has broad interests in understanding the origin and evolution of plant specialized metabolism at enzyme, pathway, and systems levels, as well as how plants exploit discrete small molecules to interact with their surrounding biotic and abiotic environments. Their work in plant metabolic evolution impacts a fundamental question in biology – how do complex traits evolve in a Darwinian fashion? In addition, his lab actively seeks opportunities to utilize plant as a unique model system to study human diseases, including metabolic syndromes and protein-misfolding diseases.
Refreshments will immediately follow the seminar in Koshland 338.