Jennifer Brophy led the design of synthetic genetic circuits that perform Boolean logic in plant cells, using synthetic transcription factors and promoters to control where and when genes are expressed. By wiring the circuits to a regulator of lateral root development, the team altered the number and density of root branches in Arabidopsis in a predictable way, establishing a framework for building root systems tailored to specific soils and climates.
Coverage: Stanford Report | Science Perspective by Alamos and Shih
Brophy JAN, Magallon K, Duan L, Zhong V, Ramachandran P, Kniazev K, Dinneny JR (2022) Synthetic genetic circuits as a means of reprogramming plant roots. Science 377:747-751. doi: 10.1126/science.abo4326
Dinneny lab 