Baohong Zhang

Education

• Ph.D., Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, 2006
• B.A., Plant Genetics and Breeding, Beijing Agricultural University, 1991

Research Interests

The research in Dr. Zhang’s lab focuses on the following fields:

Advancing plant transformation and genome editing

Dr. Zhang’s lab is working on advancing plant transformation and genome editing technology. In the lab, we majorly work on agriculturally important crops and biofuel crops, including cotton, sweetpotato, switchgrass and camelina. We are currently developing and modifying different transgenic and CRISPR genome editing tools for gene functional study and crop improvement, including both yield and quality as well as response to different environmental biotic and abiotic stresses and global climate change.

Toxicology and Transgenerational Inheritance

Environmental pollution is a global issue, which can cause numerous diseases in humans and wildlife, including cancers. Dr. Zhang’s lab is focusing on the toxicity and transgenerational effects of several groups of traditional and emerging pollutants, such as nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, explosives, and pesticides. The development of novel biomarkers for rapidly assessing the exposure and health effects of these environmental pollutants would be an important outcome of toxicological study. Dr. Zhang’s lab is also interested in investigating the molecular mechanisms of toxicant/toxin-induced cancers and their chemoprevention.

Epigenetics

One of research focuses in Dr. Zhang’s lab is epigenetics. Dr. Zhang is very interested in DNA metalation and its–mediated transgenerational impacts.

Biotechnology

Dr. Zhang’s lab also focus on creating new transgenic/CRISPR genome editing organisms for producing drugs, biofuels, modifying resistance to abiotic and biotic stressors, and improving crop yield and quality. Dr. Zhang’s lab also interest in the biosafety and risk assessment of genetically modified foods.

Publications

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