User:Shajahan Anver

"Let me tell them when to flower"



 * Department of Plant Biology,
 * College of Biological Sciences
 * University of California Davis
 * 1002 LSA,One Shields Avenue
 * Davis, CA 95616
 * mamsanver@yahoo.com
 * sanver@ucdavis.edu

Affliations

 * Graduate Student @ Harmer Lab


 * Faculty @ The Department of Agricltural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka


 * Alumni - Fulbright Academic Staff Development Fellowship

Other Affliations


 * Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society - Gamma Delta Chapter, UC Davis
 * Golden Key International Honor Society

Education

 * 2007 to present, MS & PhD, Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, USA
 * 2005, MS in Agricultural Biology, Post Graduate Institue of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
 * 2001, BS, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Research interests
“Structurally & functionally known genes could be wisely manipulated for the benefit of mankind”

I am interested in developmental biology with special reference to plant development and influence of microorganisms in plant development during plant-microbe interactions. In the past scientists discovered methods of plant improvement such as inorganic fertilizer application by trial and error methods. Now a days processeess looked at molecular level so that manipulations are done with a better understanding and precision than in the past. Circadian clock regulates many developmental processes in plants and animals. In any environment, integration of developmental processes with the correct environmntal cues is essential to be successful especially in sessile organisms like plants. Currently I am interested in functionally characterizing the XAP5 domain of XCT protein in Arabidopsis thaliana (Martin-Tryon and Harmer, Plant Cell 2008)using S. pombe (fission yeast) as a tool. XAP5 domain is conserved in many eukaryotes including human and S. pombe but not in Saccharomyces cerevesiae. Unfortunately the function of this domain is still unknown.We rescued the S. pombe xap5 mutant by transforming the Arabidopsis XCT gene.At the moment we are evaluating Arabidopsis xct-2 mutant transformed with S. pombe XAP5 gene. Moreover we constructed lines of S. pombe to elucidate the S. pombe XAP5 protein-protein interactions using TAP-tagging and MS.

Publications
1. Padmathilake, K.R.E., V. N. Wickramaarachchi, Anver, M.A.M.S. and Bandara, D.C. (2007). Biological and Economical Feasibility of Growing Mint (Mentha sylvestris), Mustard (Brassica integrifolia) and Asamodagam (Trachyspermum involucratum) under Hydroponics. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 19: 193 – 201. ABSTRACT FULL TEXT.

2. Anver, M.A.M.S., Bandara, D.C. and Padmathilake, K.R.E. (2005). Comparison of the carbon partitioning and photosynthetic efficiency of lettuce (Lactuca sativa, L.) under hydroponics and soil cultivation. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 17: 194-202.

3. Anver, M.A.M.S. (2002). Towards Development of a PCR and DNA Hybridization based method to detect genetically modified food. Undergraduate Thesis. Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture. University of Peradeniya.

4. Anver, M.A.M.S. and Bandara, D.C. (2003). Effect of solar radiation, drought and salinity stress on rice variety BG304 under plant house conditions. Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture. University of Peradeniya.


 * Fruit and Vegetable Sector and Postharvest Biologists: Roles & Tools (2005). CD prepared for graduates and undergraduates majoring in Agricultural Biology, (Multimedia Builder Version 4.8.01 and Microsoft ® Front Page ® 2002, with the references intact).

A Hotspot with Cool Stuff
Sri Lanka is described as "The Perl in the Indian Ocean" by historians. It is a country with a land area of just 65,610 Square kms but it is a hotspot of biodiversity with a lot of interesting places to visit. To feel a bit of it watch this 10 minutes video.

A Birds Eye View of a Paradise

Other Useful Links

 * Botany online - The Internet Hypertextbook


 * A Collaborative Learning Resource from nature Education

Useful links

 * Introductory tutorial
 * OpenWetWare help pages