Secondment of Kai Thoris (WPR, Wageningen) to NYBG (April 30 -July 8, 2023)

During the secondment Kai worked on two different projects: in-situ hybridization of tomato MADS-box genes and DAP-seq with Selaginella moellendorffii MADS-box proteins. The Ambrose group at NYBG has a lot of expertise in conducting in-situ hybridizations and I learned how to use this technique myself with a couple of different genes. These tomato genes are involved in processes such as flowering time and fruit development and he looked specifically at expression levels in floral and inflorescence meristems. The second project encompassed both sharing and applying expertise about the DAP-seq technique to perform experiments with Selaginella MADS-box proteins that are interesting for the Ambrose group. This technique enables the comprehensive identification of binding sites for a specific transcription factor throughout the genome. Kai gained valuable insights during this secondment creating opportunities for future collaborations.