Joanne Chory used molecular and genetic tools to investigate how plants alter their shape and size in response to changes in their light environment. Through her study of the small flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana, her research revealed signalling pathways that connect cellular light sensors to the production of hormones that stimulate plant growth.
In addition, Joanne and her colleagues identified the genes in Arabidopsis which control the plants’ nightly growth spurts. By learning how molecular triggers impact plant growth, Joanne hoped that her research would contribute to efforts to increase crop yields and help alleviate world hunger.
Joanne's contributions to plant biology led to her receiving a number of awards, including the 2004 Kumho Science International Award in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and the Genetics Society of America Medal in 2012. In 2003, she was named Scientific American’s Research Leader in Agriculture.
Professor Joanne Chory ForMemRS died on 12 November 2024.
Subject groups
-
Molecules of Life
Biochemistry and molecular biology, Cell biology (incl molecular cell biology)
-
Patterns in Populations
Population genetics, Environmental biology
-
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Agricultural and forest science
