Plant Genome Engineering
We are designing and applying molecular tools that can make precise deletions, insertions and edits in plant genomes.
Biography
Nicola Patron is a molecular and synthetic biologist interested in the natural and engineered transfer of genetic material between genomes of different species. Her lab is focused on engineering photosynthetic organisms for industrial biotechnology and crops that are healthier to consume and less environmentally damaging to cultivate.
Nicola obtained her PhD in plant molecular biology studying recombination between viruses and viral transgenes inserted into plant genomes. In post-doctoral research at The John Innes Centre, U.K. and The University of British Columbia, Canada she studied the impact that genes transferred from endosymbionts have on cellular metabolism and function, and evolution of endosymbiont genomes. From 2009-2013 Nicola was based in Melbourne, Australia leading a plant molecular biology group working with industry. Achievements included precision genome editing and targeted gene transfer with programmable nucleases. In 2013, Nicola returned to the UK to head a new Synthetic Biology venture at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich before moving to EI.
As recipient of a 2015 SynbioLEAP fellowship, Nicola was recognised as an emerging leader in synthetic biology with a vision and aspiration to shape biotechnology for the public good. She is particularly interested the societal impacts of synthetic biology and the complex intellectual property issues that surround genetic sequences, DNA and natural products. Nicola is an advocate of responsible and ethical innovation and of open-source tools for biotechnology. She is also active in promoting diversity and inclusivity in science.
Projects
Publications
Related reading.
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27 January 2023
People
Science
FEATURE
| 5 min READ
Excellent science? It’s in the technical detail
While a lot of people might still picture scientific breakthroughs as down to a lone genius having a eureka moment, science is a team sport.
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20 December 2022
Science
Public engagement
FEATURE
| 3 min READ
Finding fungi at the fen
The Earlham Institute and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew received funding from Wellcome to train the Norfolk Fungus Study Group (NFSG) in sampling fungi for the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) project, which aims to sequence the genome of every eukaryotic organism in Britain and Ireland.
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01 July 2022
Science
FEATURE
The genetic machinery that drives biodiversity
Thanks to new technologies and novel approaches to big data, researchers are revealing new secrets into the genetic processes that power Cichlid evolution.
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23 March 2022
Science
FEATURE
On the origin of errors: the causes and consequences of mistakes during DNA replication
DNA replication is a simple enough concept. Copy, divide, rest, repeat. While the basic idea is straightforward, the actual machinery governing the process of replication remains something of an enigma.
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22 February 2022
Science
FEATURE
| 8 min READ
Could long-read RNA sequencing be the future of drug discovery?
New research using long-read RNA sequencing provides a robust platform for the future discovery of novel gene isoforms and future medicines.
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11 February 2022
Science
FEATURE
| 10 min READ
Why is genome annotation important?
Genome annotation is no simple feat, but it’s incredibly important in identifying the functional elements of DNA. Building the appropriate tools and pipelines is key.
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04 February 2022
Science
Technology
FEATURE
| 5 min READ
Why cloud computing is important for data-driven bioscience research
Access to powerful compute resources via our cloud computing infrastructure enables bioscience research, collaboration, and innovation.
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10 December 2021
Science
FEATURE
| 15 min READ
How bioinformatics can crack the complex case of protist biodiversity
Protists defy taxonomic classification and wow us with their weirdness on a daily basis. They’ve been excruciatingly difficult to study but, thanks to single-cell genomics and bioinformatics being carried out at the Earlham Institute, we’re finally decoding their abundant biodiversity.
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25 November 2021
Science
FEATURE
| 8 min READ
The dramatic effects genomics will have on our future world
Fish and chips, fabrics, personalised medicine and coffee. These are just some of the things you might have Earlham Institute researchers to thank for in the decades to come.
10 January 2023
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Exotic wheat DNA could help breed ‘climate-proof’ crops
Wheat containing exotic DNA from wild relatives benefits from up to 50 per cent higher yields in hot weather compared with elite lines lacking these genes.
22 November 2022
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Sequencing project to unleash the huge potential of euglenoids
An ambitious plan to sequence the genomes of all known species of euglenoids over the next decade has been launched today.
24 October 2022
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Circadian clock insights could be key to increased wheat yields
New research carefully measuring the influence and regulation of the circadian clock in wheat could help breeders improve key agricultural traits in one of the world’s most important crops.
28 September 2022
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European consortium launched to reverse biodiversity loss through genomics research
A quantum leap in the use of genomics is needed to reverse unprecedented species loss and ecosystem degradation, according to a new pan-European consortium of leading research organisations.
22 September 2022
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Tracking bacterial evolution in real time spots emergence of antimicrobial resistance
Single-cell genomics technology could transform understanding of how bacterial populations evolve and combat the growing issue of antibiotic resistance
29 June 2022
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Big Data initiative awarded £6.3 million as part of major UKRI investment in research infrastructure
UK Research and Innovation has awarded £6.3 million of new funding to support the development of BioFAIR, a collaborative virtual infrastructure that will support the sharing and management of life science data.
13 May 2022
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Not all looks rosy for the pink pigeon
Boosting numbers of the once critically endangered pink pigeon may not be enough to save it from extinction in the future, according to a major study on the iconic species.
02 May 2022
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Coronavirus jams communication signals to immune cells in the gut
A computer model could help to reveal how some infectious diseases - including COVID-19 - trigger an overactive immune response in certain patients, which can drive inflammation and lead to serious complications or even death.
28 April 2022
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Precision medicine tool finds hidden genetic connections that could personalise IBD treatment
People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) develop the condition due to distinct and different mechanisms, determined by their genetics. Researchers and clinicians from the Quadram Institute, the Earlham Institute, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and University of East Anglia with collaborators in Cambridge, London and Leuven (Belgium), have found that natural genetic variation appears to influence the development of IBD.