Gene Co-Expression Networks
Description:
Network biology (Nature Reviews Genetics (5):101-113, Feb. 2004) techniques allow for the measurement, modeling and interpretation of gene expression relationships and gene product physical interactions on a global scale. The Feltus lab focuses on gene co-expression networks which have the power to reveal functionally-related genes based upon the simultaneous co-expression of gene pairs across hundreds to thousands of microarray experiments.
By combining co-expression networks with additional biological data, the Feltus lab is discovering and validating gene sub-networks that describe groups of coordinated genes with a common function such as the expression of a quantitative phenotype (e.g. QTL). In addition we are exploring how those networks have been modified to meet the physiological requirements of a particular species through comparative genome analysis.
Current areas of interest include:
- Gene/QTL networks underlying the drought-stress response in rice and maize.
- Evolution and function of deletion-resistant gene networks following whole genome duplication in Arabidopsis.
- Genetic improvement of ethanol yield from biofuel crops (sorghum, maize, sugarcane, Miscanthus, switch grass).
- Oyster genomics.
CUGI's Involvement:
CUGI is providing access to high-throughput computational resources.