Joseph, Jeffrey A.
Job TitlePopulation genetics research assistant
DepartmentJodrell
SectionGenetics
Science Teams:
Joined Kew: 1995-2000; 2003 – present
Qualifications & Appointments
BSc (Hons), Univ. Hertfordshire, 1995
MPhil, DIC, Imperial College (in-progress)
Role
Research into chromosome behaviour in alien genetic backgrounds is accomplished by using the B-chromosome as a model for investigating genome-wide genetic interactions and chromosome restructuring. Remote inter-species cross-hybridisation allows for species-to-species transfer of chromosomes and chromosome segments, and thus produces plant material, which can simulate and condense in few successive generations evolutionary processes including chromosome structure reshuffling, basic chromosome number changes and genome size alterations. By focusing the experimental work on investigations using molecular and chromosome genetic methods (1) new knowledge and better understanding of relationships, regular and irregular behaviour of plant chromosomes in the context of reproduction biology will be generated, (2) plant lines with special chromosome rearrangements will be produced, analysed and certified, and exchanged worldwide according requests, and (3) biotechnological know-how for efficient chromosome engineering in different plant species and inter-species hybrids as well as guidelines for plant material handling will be developed and disseminated to the scientific and general public.
Projects
Selected Recent Publications
Macaya-Sanz, D., Suter, L., Joseph. J., Barbara, T., Alba, N. Gonzalez-Martinez, S.C., Widmer, A. & Lexer, C. (2011). Genetic analysis of post-mating reproductive barriers in hybridizing European Populus species. Heredity, 107: 478–486.
Lexer, C., Joseph, J.A., van Loo, M., Barbará, T., Heinze, B., Bartha, D., Castiglione, S., Fay, M.F. & Buerkle, C.A. (2010). Genomic Admixture Analysis in European Populus spp. Reveals Unexpected Patterns of Reproductive Isolation and Mating. Genetics, 186(2):699-712.
Kynast, R.G., Joseph, J.A., Phillips, R.L. & Rines, H.W. (2010). Metaphase I pairing of B-chromosomes of Zea mays L. in the alien genetic background of Avena sativa L. Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, 84:1-14.
Lexer, C., Joseph, J., van Loo, M., Prenner, G., Heinze, B., Chase, M.W. & Kirkup D. (2009). The use of digital image-based morphometrics to study the phenotypic mosaic in taxa with porous genomes. Taxon, 58(2):349-364.
Joseph, J.A. & Lexer, C. (2008). A set of novel DNA polymorphisms within candidate genes potentially involved in ecological divergence between Populus alba and P. tremula, two hybridizing European forest trees. Molecular Ecology Resources, 8(1):188-192.
Selected Earlier Publications
Lexer, C., Buerkle, C.A., Joseph, J.A., Heinze, B. & Fay, M.F. (2006). Admixture in European Populus hybrid zones makes feasible the mapping of loci that contribute to reproductive isolation and trait differences. Heredity, 98(2):74-84.
Lexer, C., Fay, M.F., Joseph, J.A., Nica, M.S. & Heinze, B. (2005). Barrier to gene flow between two ecologically divergent Populus species, P. alba (white poplar) and P. tremula (European aspen): the role of ecology and life history in gene introgression. Molecular ecology, 14(4):1045-1057.
Chase, M.W., Knapp, S., Cox, A.V., Clarkson, J.J., Butsko, Y., Joseph, J., Savolainen, V. & Parokonny, A.S. (2003). GISH and the Origin of Hybrid Taxa in Nicotiana (Solanaceae). Annals of Botany, 92(1):107-127.
Fay, M.F., Rudall, P.J., Sullivan, S., Stobart, K.L., Bruijn, A.Y.D., Reeves, G., Qamaruz-Zaman, F., Hong, W-P., Joseph, J., Hahn, W.J. et al. (2000). Phylogenetic studies of Asparagales based on four plastid DNA loci. Monocots: Systematics and Evolution, 1(CSIRO, Melbourne):360–371.
Chase, M.W., Soltis, D.E., Soltis, P.S., Rudall, P.J., Fay, M.F., Hahn, W.H., Sullivan, S., Joseph, J., Molvray, M., Kores, P.J. et al. (2000). Higher-level systematics of the monocotyledons: an assessment of current knowledge and a new classification. Monocots: systematics and evolution: 3-16.
