News Archives
Latest News
Corn Genomics Pops Wide Open
The sequencing of maize genomes and the development of new strains are enabling faster exploitation of this key crop's natural diversity.
(Mar 07, 2008)
Group Says It Has Mapped Corn Genome
Scientists at universities and corporations are about to get a major leg up in their tireless — and profitable — effort to reinvent the corn plant.
(Feb 26, 2008)
Scientists find way to increase corn's vitamin A
A study co-authored by Tom Brutnell has identified a gene in the carotenoid pathway that helps determine the levels of provitamin A in corn seeds. Importantly, they show that naturally occurring alleles of this gene (lycopene epsilon cyclase) can be selected in breeding programs to biofortify varieties commonly grown in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America where Vitamin A deficiency affects up to 30% of the children under the age of 5.
(Jan 18, 2008)
Campus researchers discover a novel player in how plants protect themselves
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) for Plant Research on Cornell's campus have identified a crucial player in the defense network that allows plants to respond to pathogens.
(Jan 16, 2008)
Trust the bulbs!
Confused about the right planting depth for flower bulbs? Trust the bulbs! Research by Dr. A. Carl Leopold and the late Dr. Modecai Jaffe discovered that some flower bulbs are actually "smart" enough to adjust themselves to the right planting depth. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science proved that bulbs can adjust their planting position by moving deeper into the ground, apparently in search of moister, more conducive growing conditions.
(Dec 06, 2007)
Frank C. Schroeder
A study, co-authored by Frank Schroeder, has identified a hormone from human urine, a xanthurenic-acid derivative, which might help safely flush sodium out of the body and could be harnessed to develop more effective and safer treatments for high blood pressure, or hypertension.
(Dec 06, 2007)
Domesticated mobile elements modulate light responses
Plants constantly gauge their environments and adjust their growth and development in order to survive. One way plants “see” their surroundings is from the color, intensity, direction, and duration of light around them, using a battery of photoreceptors.
(Nov 23, 2007)
Illuminating Study Reveals How Plants Respond to Light
Most of us take it for granted that plants respond to light by growing, flowering and straining towards the light, and we never wonder just how plants manage to do so. But the ordinary, everyday responses of plants to light are deceptively complex, and much about them has long stumped scientists.
(Nov 23, 2007)
A High-Resolution Root Spatiotemporal Map Reveals Dominant Expression Patterns
Transcriptional programs that regulate development are exquisitely controlled in space and time. Elucidating these programs that underlie development is essential to understanding the acquisition of cell and tissue identity.
(Nov 06, 2007)
In evolutionary arms race, a bacterium is found that outwits tomato plant's defenses, Cornell study finds
An arms race is under way in the plant world. It is an evolutionary battle in which plants are trying to beef up their defenses against the innovative strategies of pathogens. The latest example of this war is a bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae) that infects tomatoes by injecting a special protein into the plant's cells and undermines the plant's defense system. (July 19, 2007)
BTI hosts teachers for Professional Development Day
On March 23, 2007, as part of Professional Development Day, BTI’s Outreach Coordinator Elizabeth Fox led a workshop on plant biotechnology for a group of eleven educators from the surrounding area. (Mar 23, 2007)
The Road Forward: Charting a new course for energy usage
With global warming and depleted energy resources becoming ever-increasing concerns, the need for alternative energy sources is great. The National Agriculture and Biotechnology Research Council (NABC) has drafted a detailed plan for the 21st century bioeconomy – Agriculture and Forestry for Energy, Chemicals and Materials: The Road Forward. Co-founded by BTI in 1988, the NABC provides an open forum for the discussion of major issues of agricultural biotechnology. (Mar 22, 2007)
New Scientists Joining BTI
Two scientists, Frank Schroeder, Ph.D., and Ji-Young Lee, Ph.D., will soon be bringing their knowledge and expertise to BTI. (Mar 16, 2007)
BTI participates in “Natural History at Noon” lecture series
BTI scientist Peter Moffett and affiliate Owen Hoekenga each spoke at the Museum of the Earth in March as part of the weekly “Natural History at Noon” lecture series. (Mar 12, 2007)
A Plea for a Wider Ethical Responsibility
In the latest issue of ASPB News, the newsletter of the American Society of Plant Biologists, Emeritus scientist Dr. Carl Leopold urged scientists to broaden their viewpoints on ethical responsibility. (Mar 1, 2007)
BTI rated a “Best Place to Work” for Postdocs
For the second year in a row, BTI has ranked among the top 15 best places in North America for postdoctoral fellows, according to a recent survey by The Scientist magazine. (Mar 1, 2007)
New Semester...New After-School program
As the spring semester begins, we have moved the after-school program to a new elementary school, Beverly J. Martin. (Feb 26, 2007)
“Natural History at Noon” lecture series at the Museum of the Earth
BTI scientists Dr. Tom Brutnell and Dr. Georg Jander each spoke at the Museum of the Earth in February as part of the weekly “Natural History at Noon” lecture series. (Feb 24, 2007)
Cornell and BTI receive $1.8 million from NSF to continue tomato sequence project
BTI scientists Jim Giovannoni and Joyce Van Eck, as well as two Cornell scientists, are leading an international project to sequence the tomato genome. (Jan 30, 2007)
In relations between plants and fungi, phosphorous plays a key role
Recent research in Maria Harrison’s lab has exposed the vital importance of phosphorous transfer is in some relationships between plants and fungi. (Jan 22, 2007)
sLowlife
Exhibit opens at the Museum of the Earth. (Dec 23, 2006; updated Jan 19, 2007)
BTI President speaks to schoolchildren
On November 27th, BTI President David Stern spoke to Denise Blair’s group of 4th to 6th graders in Santa Cruz, California. While there, David talked to the students about plants, as well as discussing three very famous plant biologists — George Washington Carver, Norman Borlaug, and Barbara McClintock. (Dec 20, 2006; updated Feb 22, 2007)
Nature Explorers at Caroline After-School Program
As the school year started up, so did Nature Explorers. This semester, Nature Explorers was at Caroline Elementary. The program, held once a week as part of the school’s after-school program, uses fun activities to teach young students about nature and plants. (Nov 22, 2006)
Science Cabaret features Roger Hangarter
On Nov 14, plant scientist Roger Hangarter spoke on “Twist and Sprout: Revealing plant awareness” (Nov 14, 2006)
April Dobbs and Kenneth Liu win at this year’s Colonel’s Cup Challenge
This year 19 diverse students from universities all over the nation participated in the Plant Genome Research Program summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship. The REU summer internship program culminated in a student symposium, the Colonel’s Cup Challenge, on August 10. (Aug 10, 2006)
Student Internships in Plant Science have Real-life Impact
The interns are being mentored by a graduate student or post-doctoral associate and are working on projects related to plant genomics. Students are learning the latest in molecular biology techniques and many are participating in fieldwork. (Aug 7, 2006)
Liza Conrad Wins Barbara McClintock Award
Plant Breeding and Genetics graduate student Liza Conrad was recently awarded the Barbara McClintock Award. The award, which recognizes “a graduate student with the best potential and greatest background merit” in the plant sciences at Cornell, was endowed by donor Robert Rabson. (Jun 15, 2006)
Major Agricultural Biotechnology Meeting to be Held on Cornell Campus
The National Agricultural Biotechnology Council will hold its 18th annual meeting, June 12-14, on Cornell’s Ithaca and Geneva campuses. The meeting, entitled “Agricultural Biotechnology: Economic Development through New Products, Partnerships and Workforce Development,” will address the role universities, and state and federal governments play in developing and moving research into the marketplace. (Jun 9, 2006)
Scientists Discover Genes Required for a Successful Symbiotic Relationship
In the current Microarray Bulletin, BTI scientist Maria Harrison interviews a colleague about identifying genes needed for partnerships between plant roots and soil microbes. (Jun 8, 2006)
Institute Gears Up to Host Summer Interns
Nineteen students will arrive on the Cornell campus on June 5 for the 10-week Plant Genome Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The students, chosen from among more than 100 applicants, will carry out independent research projects in labs at BTI, Cornell, and the USDA. (Jun 1, 2006)
BTI Research Makes Cover of PNAS
The May 16 issue of the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences includes two articles by BTI researchers. Vered Irihimovitch and David B. Stern’s paper is on the effect of sulfer deprivation on gene expression in chloroplasts, while Cornelius Barry and Jim Giovannoni’s cover story describes a protein that inhibits ripening in tomatoes by disrupting ethylene signalling. (May 16, 2006)
Abstracts: Irihimovitch & Stern | Barry & Giovannoni
BTI Volunteers Help Out During Earth Week
Seventeen employees stepped up to improve the local environment on the Institute’s second annual Earth Week Volunteer Day. (Apr 20, 2006)
Nature Explorers After-school Program Returns
Joyce Van Eck kicked off this year’s Nature Explorers program at Northeast Elementary School with a demonstration of the myriad members of the Solanaceae family. (Mar 30, 2006)
Scientist’s Work with Seeds Leads to New Diabetes Treatment
Emeritus Scientist Carl Leopold is featured in a recent Ithaca Journal article. (Mar 22, 2006)
Granados Featured on MicrobeWorld Radio
Emeritus Scientist Bob Granados spoke about the uses of baculoviruses in pest control and a vaccine against cancer in separate spots. (Mar 17, 2006)
Blissard Featured on MicrobeWorld Radio
BTI Scientist Gary Blissard explains how baculoviruses can benefit people in this 90-second radio spot. (Mar 15, 2006)
BTI a Top Place for Postdocs
The institute rated the twelfth-best place to work in North America in The Scientist’s annual survey of postdoctoral fellows. (Mar 1, 2006)
BTI Scientists Help Develop First Approved Plant-made Vaccine
Joyce Van Eck is featured in this article on a new poultry vaccine against Newcastle Disease. Dow AgroSciences uses cultured plant cells to make the vaccine. (Feb 14, 2006)
The Public Affairs Office at the Boyce Thompson Institute disseminates news and arranges tours, interviews with faculty experts, and other services for journalists. For more information, please contact us at BTI_news@cornell.edu or (607) 254-8531. About BTI