Innovative People

Perrin Beatty

I used biotechnology research to improve the nitrogen use efficiency of crop plants in order to reduce N pollution in our waterways and atmosphere. I also sued biotechnology and synthetic biology techniques to introduce nitrogenase genes from diazotrophic bacteria transiently into tobacco. I targeted the gene products to the plants' mitochondria, then anaerobically purified these recombinant proteins to show that they are functional, when complemented with other nitrogenase genes, in an acetylene reduction assay.
Currently I am very interested in developing active learning modules to promote effective learning in large second year microbiology and genetics courses. I am also very interested in increasing science literacy and communication.