Pleun Langerwerf, council member

About my research

Many plants display strikingly random developmental patterns, such as variegated leaves or scattered trichomes, which arise from the interplay between genetic programs and epigenetic regulation. Petunia W138, with its characteristic speckle patterns caused by transposable elements, serves as a powerful model to explore how plants balance genomic stability with the flexibility needed to adapt to environmental changes. My research aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that govern TE activity, the impact of stress and epigenetic regulation on their mobility, and how the genetic background influences these dynamics.