Spring 2020, a new normal

The Grusz Lab transitioned to an online-only research environment in early March, 2020, in response to global outbreaks of SARS-Cov2. Fortunately, most of our DNA/RNA sequencing efforts for current projects were complete at the time—we had plenty of data to analyze and multiple papers in preparation.

We adapted quickly to Zoom-based research and lab meetings, and re-assessed undergraduate summer research projects, shifting in some cases from plans of honing wet-lab skills (e.g. cytogenetics) to focusing instead on bioinformatics and BIG data.

Since the onset of covid-19, lab members have kept in touch regularly, sharing smiles and frustrations. While supporting each other with regular Zoom meetings, we managed to also wrap-up and submit two manuscripts:

• A drought-driven hypothesis for the origin of obligate apomixis in ferns
  Grusz, A. L., et al. (in review).
  

• Variation in frequency of plastid RNA editing within Adiantum (Pteridaceae) implies rapid evolution in fern plastomes

  Fauskee, B. et al. (in review).

As the semester comes to a close, lab members are looking toward summer with cautious optimism. We hope to conduct undergraduate summer research remotely.

Stay tuned for more info as BURST and UROP projects get underway!