Investigating the role of the cytoskeleton in touch system development and function
By: Evan Craig (Rasmussen Lab)

Understanding the evolution of a plant immune receptor in legumes
By: Simon Snoeck (Steinbrenner Lab)

The integration of developmental genetics and evolution is providing a powerful synthesis towards understanding the mechanisms underlying the generation of biodiversity. Functional studies across the phylogenetic landscape are facilitating a comparative, integrative view highlighting that genes are mostly repurposed into new roles. I will present micro- and macro-evolutionary approaches on the evolutionary consequences of the emergence of novel traits in three distinct plant systems: an angiosperm, a gymnosperm and a fern.