Group – Plant Systems Biology

INTRODUCTION

There is no doubt that in the coming years plants will play a very significant role in easing major challenges facing mankind. Plants will provide more food and renewable sources of energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and other commodities.

The genetic improvements of plants will yield improved and novel traits. Novel technologies will make it possible to bring agriculture and environment into harmony. We are working towards an in depth understanding of plant genomes and plant molecular processes to harness the full potential of plants by implementing the emerging field of systems biology that offers a framework to fully understand complex processes such as the production of secondary metabolites. This requires the development of novel tools and disciplines to integrate and model on a multi-level scale the overwhelming number of dynamic interactions between genes, RNAs, proteins and metabolites.

Ultimately systems biology will enable us to predict how components of the molecular machinery can be altered to obtain a desired product. Plant Systems Biology research group is formed to lead the way in utilizing systems biology approach in the field of plant science towards in depth understanding on the production of secondary metabolites. The plant chosen for this research was selected because of the lack of information on its genome.  It will be used as a model for testing the applicability of a systems biology approach for the understanding of the biological processes of this type of plant.

 

RESEARCH FOCUS

This research focuses on the molecular exploration of tropical biodiversity towards new genes and biomolecules discovery using systems biology approach.

We believe new a technology of systems biology is possible to harmonize various interest in plant study. Research projects were designed to promote synergy within our research group whilst strengthening the identity and the visibility of each individual principal investigator. We believe active collaboration efforts is a key for the holistic understanding of complex gene networks involved in the production of secondary metabolites in plants. Systems biology also requires the development of novel tools and discipline to integrate multilevel heterogenous data and to generate dynamic model on the overwhelming number of dynamic interactions between genes, RNAs, proteins and metabolites thus the development and applications of bioinformatics approaches is equally important and need to be nurtured equally.

Eventually translational research will become an important component of our activities as a platform to enable knowledge and technology transfer from plant models to actual environment.

 

TEAM MEMBERS

Leader

  • Prof. Dr. Normah Mohd Noor

Members

  • Prof. Dr. Ismanizan Ismail
  • Prof. Dr. Zamri Zainal
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roohaida Othman
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeti Azura Mohamed Hussein
  • Dr. Syarul Nataqain Baharum
  • Dr. Maizom Hassan
  • Dr. Ng Chyan Leong
  • Dr. Goh Hoe Han

 

GROUP LEADER: PROF. DR. NORMAH MOHD. NOOR

Institute of Systems Biology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor

Tel: 603-89214546 Fax: 603-89213398

Email: normah@ukm.edu.my