Dr. Alan Pepper

Biography

Alan Pepper joined the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University in 1995. His laboratory utilizes genetic and genomic molecular tools to study the mechanisms by which terrestrial plants adapt to extreme environments. His research particularly investigates the genetic mechanisms of plant adaptation to stresses such as drought, low essential mineral nutrient availability (N, P, K, Ca), low light conditions, and heavy metals. Key study organisms include Caulanthus amplexicaulis and related species from the tribe Thelypodieae in the Brassicaceae family, which are notable for their adaptation to a remarkable range of environments, from deserts to cloud forests and even barren sub-Antarctic islands. Furthermore, the species within this group are interfertile, allowing for sophisticated genetic and genomic investigations. Alan's work has also led to a broad interest in the conservation and ecological genetics of rare plants, particularly geoendemics. Additionally, he is involved in a separate project using comparative genomics to investigate the genetic basis of evolution under domestication in cultivated cottons (Gossypium spp.) and their wild relatives, leveraging genomic insights from model plants to address the complexities of cotton genomes.

Research Interests