C. Jake Harris Lab

Welcome to the Harris Lab

Do plants remember their life history? Can they use this information to respond better and learn from past experience? Does epigenetics play a role in this process? How are chromatin states perpetuated to form epigenetic memories at a cellular level? Can we use epigenome-engineering approaches to ‘vaccinate’ plants so that they are more resilient?

These are the kinds of questions that drive research in the Chromatin and Memory Group. Using primarily plants as model species, we employ a range of cutting-edge approaches (molecular, [epi]genomic, computational) to engineer biology and address basic questions with potential implications in health and agriculture.