Overview
In this episode, John McKay, Chief Scientific Officer at New West Genetics and professor at Colorado State University, discusses his research on local adaptation, genotype-by-environment interactions, and heterosis. His work spans crops like maize, rice, and hemp, applying evolutionary genetics to improve breeding strategies. He highlights findings on conditional neutrality in adaptation and efforts to reduce maize nitrous oxide emissions through root phenotyping. He also explores the genetic basis of hybrid vigor and copy number variations. John's projects, funded by ARPA-E and NSF, aim to enhance crop efficiency and sustainability.
More:
New West Genetics hybrid hemp
Genetic basis of plant root growth traits and their response to environment - current NSF grant
National Science Foundation
Conditional neutrality in Arabidopsis local adaptation
GxE in maize root traits
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John McKay is a Professor of Plant Evolutionary Genomics at Colorado State University. He is also Chief Scientific Officer and Board Member of New West Genetics (Hemp Seed Genetics). In his faculty position, John leads a research group on the genetics of adaptation in crops and model systems, with a focus on drought and sustainability. His research examines evolution and gene function at both the phenotypic and molecular levels. His genetic discoveries are in the commercial breeding pipeline for multiple crops. |
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