Prof. YOSHIDA Satoko
Please tell us about your own research and what you find interesting about it.
I’m studying parasitic plants that live by infecting other plants. These are plants that live by invading other plants and taking over their vascular bundles to receive nutrition. How did this happen when the plants originally had the same ancestors? We use molecular genetics and genome science to answer that question.
Please tell us about the difficulties and joys of the research field.
I get excited when I see the gene expression that I predicted, when I find the causative gene of a mutant, when I see a beautiful cell under the microscope, and when the program I created works properly. Above all, I get excited when I see a new result and think, “I am the only person in the world who knows this fact.” To reach that moment, trial and error is necessary.
Please tell us about the expected results and social significance of the project.
Parasitic plants are plants that are causing major agricultural damage in Africa and southern Europe. We hope that unraveling the mechanisms of parasitism will lead to solutions to the global food problems. I hope to develop agricultural chemicals that can control parasitic plants, breed resistant hosts, and devise methods to control parasitic plants by genetic engineering.
A message of support for students who are about to take the exam
There are several mysteries in the field of biotechnology that have yet to be solved. Why don't you join our laboratory and try to reveal such wonders? In addition to parasitic plants, we’re also studying biological interactions between plants and other organisms.
What do you do to keep yourself fresh?
Going to hot springs and relaxing, vegetable gardening, traveling, and horse riding.