Joon Kim

Ph.D. Student in Intergrative Life Sciences

Email: kimj229@vcu.edu

Background

  • M.S. Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University 

  • B.S Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Richmond

Research Interests

I am studying the role of CYC2-like genes of the CYC/TB1 clade of the TCP family on evolution and development of species in the Solanaceae family. I am trying to determine the role of two paralogs of CYC2, which formed in the common ancestor of Solanaceae, in floral development of Solanum lycopersicum, and Nicotiana obtusifolia using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method. I am also interested on Evo-Devo study of Solanum rostratum, by performing quantitative expression of CYC2 genes to test if CYC2 gene involved in the evolution of floral zygomorphy in this species.