The self-incompatibility response of flowering plants
Many flowering plants have evolved mechanisms to prevent self-fertilisation. We study the genes and proteins that are involved in identifying ‘self’ and ‘non-self’ pollen.
Synthesis of plant cell walls
The growth and development of living plants, and their utility as food, fibre and fuel, is controlled by the nature of the walls surrounding their cells. We study the genes that control polysaccharide biosynthesis in the wall of a relatively simple model plant system, the growing pollen tube.
The relationship between airborne pollen and asthma
Asthma is a long term chronic condition diagnosed in childhood. Pollen grains from wind-pollinated plants and fungal spores are widely thought to be important triggers of asthma because most children with asthma are sensitized to one or more of these environmental allergens. We study whether changes in prevalence of airborne pollen are a likely explanation of seasonal variation in exacerbations of asthma
