Professor Frank Harmon

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

“Identifying Mutations, Timing of CAB Expression and Zeitlupe, to evaluate any effects on the Circadian Rhythm in Maize.”

The circadian clock controls a plant’s daily metabolism and physiology through the cycles of light and dark. Because of the circadian rhythms,  plants are able to go through a process from vegetative to floral development. This process is very important in bring crops our groceries. One of those crops is maize. There are two known mutations that are seen to have an effect on the circadian rhythms in Arabidopsis. Zeitlupe (ZTL) is known to lengthen the free running period of clock- controlled gene, and the timing of CAP expression (TOC1) is known to shorten the circadian rhythm in Arabidopsis plants. Although the roles of these mutants are known in Arabodopsis, there is still a gray area in how these mutations affect maize plants. Genotyping plants using PCR and DNA extractions will help us identify any insertions in each plants. Using a Agarose Gel Electrophoration, we will be able to identify which plants are mutants under UV light. This work will help prepare for the future in studies that will improving maize crops.

Carolyn is currently attending Diablo Valley College and Los Medanos College maintaining a GPA of 3.0. She is a first generation college student. She is planning to transfer into UC Berkeley or UC Davis pursuing a major in Biology.