Dr. Julie Kang
Associate Professor
Location
Office - MSH 091
Research Lab - MSH 009
Phone
(319) 273-7152
Email
Dr. Julie Kang
Associate Professor
Education
- Ph.D. (2005) Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Canada. Collaborative Program in Developmental Biology.
- B. Sc. (1999) Biological Sciences (Major: Biology, Minor: Zoology), University of Toronto, Canada.
- Honors B.A. (1996) Humanities (Major: Studio/Fine Arts, Minor: Art History), McMaster University, Canada.
Teaching Interests
Developmental Plant Anatomy, Plant Morphology and Evolution, Light Microcscopy Methods in Biology, Cell Structure and Function
Research Interests
My research program is to understand the evolution and homology of leaf shape and vein pattern. We use a variety of plant species to investigate this correlation. Some of our projects include:
- Investigating the evolution of compound and simple leaves in the genus Ampelopsis (Vitaceae). Homologous structures are studied using histological, molecular, and morphometric techniques.
- Analyzing vein pattern in compound leaves of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Vascular marker genes, AtHB-8::GUS and DR5::VENUS, is used to visualize developing vascular strands so that vein pattern can be mapped during leaf development.
- Morning glory leaf mutants are analyzed to determine how morphogenic competency along the blade margin changes based on leaf shape.
Professional Accomplishments