Iowa State University

Interdepartmental Genetics Program

- Department of Plant Pathology -

Mailing Address: 351 Bessey Hall

Office Location: 412 Bessey Hall

Laboratory Location: 432 Bessey Hall

Ames, Iowa 50011

Phone: 515-294-5531

E-mail: tcarr@iastate.edu

Tyrell Carr

Professional - Academic Goals

Return to my Alma Mater (Elizabeth City State University) as a faculty member in the Department of Biology, become department chairperson (or dean) and eventually become chancellor (president). In addition, I would like to serve on the Board of Directors at a research company.

Education

Elizabeth City State University (University of North Carolina): Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Degree: BS – Biology (Cellular Biology / Biotechnology), Spring 2001

Iowa State University: Ames, Iowa

Degree: Seeking MS then PhD in Genetics (Plant Virology), Present

Research Interest

Viruses cause diseases in plants that can result in significant economic losses. At the present time, there is not a clear understanding of why plants become sick when viruses infect them. My research is geared toward understanding how plant cells change when viruses infect them. In particular, I am studying a set of stress genes, termed heat shock genes that become activated by viral infection as well as other plant stresses. I am using genetic and molecular biology approaches to determine when heat shock genes become activated during viral infection and if the activation of these genes is involved in viral diseases.

Model System: Arabidopsis thaliana

Fields of Interest

Biochemistry

Cell and Molecular Biology

Molecular Genetics

Molecular Stress Physiology

Assistantships/Fellowships

Interdepartmental Genetics Research Assistantship

Monsanto Company Fellowship (Career Development - Research Applications For Plant Breeding)

Section on Plant Virology: RNA Virus Replication and Transcription

Reading List for March 6, 2003: I’m not asking that you read the papers in that much detail…just get a basic understanding. Additional papers will be available by Sunday concerning negative RNA viruses and double stranded RNA viruses in addition to other things.

I would encourage you to Read***

Reading 1: Specific Site Selection in TYMV – RNA 4:1083-1095 (1998)

Reading 2: Minimal Requirements for TYMV Minus Strand Synthesis – J. of Virology 72: 3965 – 3972 (1998)

Reading 3: Alpha-virus-Like Replication – Archives of Virology 147: 875 – 898 (2002)*** (Plant Viruses Only)

Reading 4: CCA Initiation Box TYMV – RNA 6: 698 – 707 (2000)***

Reading 5: RNA Mediated-Transactivation for RCNMV – Science 281: 829 – 832 (1998)***

Reading 6: 3’ UTR Positive-Strand RNA Viruses

Reading 7: Subgenomic RNA information (Miller WA)

Reading 8: Replication of TMV***

Reading 9: Review of Subgenomic RNAs by Positive-Strand RNA Viruses (Miller WA)

Check Back on Sunday for Additional Encouraging Readings