Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Kristen Porter-Utley is collaborating with partners in Brazil to study the evolutionary history of a large group of tropical plants that have largely been ignored by scientists, despite the fact that most of the plants are important trees in tropical forests around the world.
Dr. Porter-Utley and some of her students are extracting DNA from samples sent by her collaborators in Brazil and provided by storehouses of dried plants, to ultimately help people understand the evolution of these plants, and the ecosystems and biodiversity in South America and beyond.
“The research I am conducting helps us understand our past, in order to better protect our future,” said Dr. Porter-Utley. “This research opens the door to a great deal more knowledge about our natural world, while providing students with opportunities to expand their hands-on research experience.”