About Eu-Sol
Find out more about this project.
An introduction to the aims of EU-SOL and how we plan to achieve them. Plus read about the organisations and people working on this project.
Dr. Habile Alisdair R. Fernie
Photographer: Unknown. Copyright free
Organisation: Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Job title: Group Leader
What do you do?
Manage activities of the Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology pertaining to biochemical evaluations in Modules 1, 2 and 3 and collaborate with bioinformaticians both at Potsdam-Golm and in other laboratories with regard to integration of data resulting from these exercises. In brief, we carry out detailed analysis of the chemical composition of tomato fruits either across populations displaying broad genetic deviance, fruits engineered to display altered expression of single genes or fruits exposed to altered environmental conditions.
My personal role is in deciding the pathways and processes which are believe to be of greatest importance and in overseeing that we carry out thorough and accurate analysis of the corresponding samples. Day-to-day work involves confirming the robustness and accuracy of data produced and interpretation of the results obtained. On a more global level my work in concerned with establishing the metabolic basis which underlies fundamental processes involved in normal fruit development in the tomato as well as assessing mechanisms by which we could leverage beneficial chemical traits back into elite cultivars from the wild species from which they evolved.
How did you get involved in the project?
The project represents the first major global effort to apply contemporary and groundbreaking state of the art technologies to a model fruit crop. My own educational background is strongly biochemically versed having obtained my BSc from the molecular biology, biochemistry and biotechnology dept. of the university of Sheffield – a course which was centred almost exclusively on mammalian biochemistry. My love of plant metabolism was essentially channelled by twin realisations (i) that this was considerable more complex, (ii) that large areas of plant metabolism were unchartered territory. This prompted me to jump headlong into tackling how to improve and influence plant metabolism.
Pieces of me
What do you currently have on your bedside table?
A historical crime novel set in the time of the dissolution of the monasteries in Britain and my alarm clock.
What would be your one desert island luxury?
I would be rubbish on a desert island –can I ask for a bridge to the mainland?
A friend has just invited themselves to dinner, what will they be getting?
If they afford me enough time they would receive a wholesome three course meal if not I would rather invite them to my local Vietnamese restaurant.
If you had a megaphone what would you be shouting from the roof tops?
Nothing I firmly believe that if someone has something worth saying they do not need to shout it. If it is important enough a whisper will suffice.
What do you think the next big thing will be?
India
