Welcome to the Lab
of Dr. John M. Burke
Department of Plant Biology
– University of Georgia
– Athens, GA
Our research is primarily focused on plant evolutionary
genetics and genomics. In our work, we use a diverse set of
technologies and approaches to better understand the
molecular basis of phenotypic divergence within the sunflower
family (i.e., the Compositae or Asteraceae). We also maintain
an interest in the ecological and evolutionary effects of
gene flow from genetically modified crops into their wild
relatives.
Specific topics of interest include the plant domestication,
crop evolution, the evolution of genome structure, floral
developmental evolution, crop-wild gene flow, transgene
escape, speciation, hybridization, and the evolution of
reproductive isolation.
For a more detailed description of projects in the lab,
please click through to
our research page.