Wholesale or piecemeal? NSF-funded study seeks genetic insights

Welcome to Pocket Science: a glimpse at recent research from Husker scientists and engineers. For those who want to quickly learn the “What,” “So what” and “Now what” of Husker research.

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International team makes rare discovery of new fatty acids

Decades after scientists discovered hundreds of different fatty acids in vegetable oils, two that had managed to elude detection have finally revealed themselves to a team led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Huazhong Agricultural University in China.

Named for the sites of the two leading institutions, Nebraskanic acid and Wuhanic acid make up nearly half of the seed oil found in the Chinese violet cress, a flowering plant native to central China.

According to the research team, the discovery may be the first of its kind since the 1960s and 1970s, when biochemists identified troves of new fatty acids in various vegetable oils.

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Nebraska's Center for Plant Science Innovation is transforming agriculture

While it was built on a foundation of basic plant science, research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Plant Science is anything but basic.

Faculty in the center are making discoveries in areas of metabolic biochemistry, stress biology, and genetics and epigenetics. While the science is groundbreaking, Edgar Cahoon, director of the center, believes the ability to bring findings to the field is what makes the work unique.

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Nebraska-led research explores solutions to vitamin deficiency in Africa

Key findings in a decade-long research project led by Nebraska’s Edgar Cahoon may result in solutions to sub-Saharan Africa’s challenge with vitamin A deficiency.

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Achievements | Honors, awards, publications for Oct. 20

Recent accomplishments received by the campus community were earned by Edgar Cahoon, Sara Duke, Dan Duncan, Rachel Gordon, Tyler Howell, Bailea Kerr, Ben Kunz, Mallory Lane, Kylie Miller, Rosamond Thalken and Mallory Wallace.

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Plant scientists aim to turn sorghum into jet fuel

As members of a new federally funded bioenergy research center, Nebraska plant scientists Edgar Cahoon and Tom Clemente will spend the next five years working to expand the oil-producing capability of the sorghum plant.

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Fascination of Plants Day is May 18

The Center for Plant Science Innovation and the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture are hosting events May 18 to celebrate the fourth international Fascination of Plants Day.

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Achievements | Honors, awards, publications for March 31

Recent accomplishments by the campus community were earned by faculty/staff Katherine Ankerson, Edgar Cahoon, Oleh Khalimonchuck, Daniel Schachtman, James Schnable, Dirac Twidwell, Brian Wardlow and Amber Williams.

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Discovery could bolster traits of soybeans, other crops

A team of Nebraska biologists has discovered an important component plants need to make microRNAs, tiny molecules critical in regulating gene expression.

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University earns $20M for partnership to improve crop productivity

Nebraska's Edgar Cahoon and James Alfano will lead a $20 million, Nebraska-based research effort to improve crop productivity

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