Marce Lorenzen
| vCard Marce Lorenzen | |
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| Affiliation: | North Carolina State University |
| Homepage: | www.cals.ncsu.edu/entomology/lorenzen |
| Phone: | 919 513-7857 |
| WorkingGroup: | Plant pests and beneficials, Vectors |
| Species: | |
One of my main interests is Tribolium genetics and genomics, and a unique class of selfish genetic element. The elements/factors under investigation, Maternal-Effect Dominant Embryonic Arrest (Medea) factors have only been found in Tribolium flour beetles and are unknown in the remainder of the animal kingdom. These Medea genes are unique in combining a “maternal poison” and a “zygotic antidote” to gain a survival advantage. Perhaps if we knew the molecular mechanism by which these elements function we could utilize their genetic-drive system to force desirable traits into pest populations (e.g. Bt-sensitivity into resistant moth populations or hairpin-RNAs that inactivate plant viruses into aphid/thrip vector populations). This is just one of the many goals of NC-State's newly established Genetic Pest Management program.
