John Eleblu

My research interest is in molecular biology, gene expression, identification, mapping and cloning of genes, plant transformation, plant defense mechanisms and plant breeding for disease and stress tolerance.

Current Research

Plant architecture is defined as the three-dimensional organisation of the plant body. Plant architecture has long been the only criterion for systematic and taxonomic classification, and, even today, it is the best means of identifying a plant species. But it is also of major agronomic importance, strongly influencing the suitability of a plant for cultivation, its yield and the efficiency with which it can be harvested. Notably, one of the great successes of the Green Revolution, which led to major increases in productivity, was based on the modification of plant architecture: the selection of wheat varieties with shorter and sturdier stems resulted in plants that can carry more yield while still resisting damage from wind and rain (Peng et al., 1999). Thus, a better understanding of the molecular-genetic regulation of plant form will help us to modify specifically agronomically relevant traits. The genetic contributions of bif2 in maize plant architecture and implications of ZmPID3 in establishing kernel shape and size are being studied. These genetic elements have been surveyed, well phenotyped and by using Association mapping to fine map the QTL down to the gene level and performing QTL analysis complemented by expression assays a clearer understanding of genetic control of plant architecture is to be gained.

Educational Background

2006 – To Date Mphil Crop Science (Genetics and Breeding), University of Ghana

2001 - 2005 BSc. Agricultural Science, University of Ghana

1997 -1999 Senior Secondary School education at Achimota Senior Secondary School, Achimota, Accra Ghana

Working Experience

2005 - 2006 -Teaching/Research Assistant for the Crop Science Department

2005 -Resource Personnel for the Postgraduate Biotechnology Curriculum development Workshop

2005 -Rapporteur for the workshop to develop curriculum in Biotechnology

Conferences and Seminars Attended

- Participant in Marker Assisted Selection Training Workshop on the Use of Molecular Markers for Characterization of Genetic Resources conducted at the Biotechnology Centre, University of Ghana, Legon in conjunction with the Institute for Genomic Diversity Cornell University, USA and funded by Kirkhouse Trust (2^nd – 13^th July 2007).

- Resource person and participant at the 3^rd ECOWAS Ministerial Conference on biotechnology on the adoption of the 2006 – 2010 Action Plan for Meeting Challenges of Biotechnology and Biosafety, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Ghana 26^th to 31^st March 2007.

- Participant at the Annual Lecture in the Sciences of the Ghana Institute of Horticulturist in collaboration with the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (20^th October 2005).

- Participant and a presenter at the 24^th Biennial Conference of the Ghana Science Association (1^st- 4^th August 2005).

- Participant and a presenter at a debate on whether Genetically Modified Foods are SAFE for Consumption (November 2003).

Paper Published

(Eleblu and Danquah 2006). A Review of the Applications of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) In Crop Improvement. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 8. No. 2, pp. 13 – 25.

Hobbies

- Reading scientific journals and publications.

- Swimming and computing.


		John Saviour Yaw Eleblu Institute for Genomic Diversity Cornell University 175 Biotechnology Bldg. Ithaca, NY 14853 email: je233@cornell.edu
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	My research interest is in molecular biology, gene expression, identification, mapping and cloning of genes, plant transformation, plant defense mechanisms and plant breeding for disease and stress tolerance. Current Research Plant architecture is defined as the three-dimensional organisation of the plant body. Plant architecture has long been the only criterion for systematic and taxonomic classification, and, even today, it is the best means of identifying a plant species. But it is also of major agronomic importance, strongly influencing the suitability of a plant for cultivation, its yield and the efficiency with which it can be harvested. Notably, one of the great successes of the Green Revolution, which led to major increases in productivity, was based on the modification of plant architecture: the selection of wheat varieties with shorter and sturdier stems resulted in plants that can carry more yield while still resisting damage from wind and rain (Peng et al., 1999). Thus, a better understanding of the molecular-genetic regulation of plant form will help us to modify specifically agronomically relevant traits. The genetic contributions of bif2 in maize plant architecture and implications of ZmPID3 in establishing kernel shape and size are being studied. These genetic elements have been surveyed, well phenotyped and by using Association mapping to fine map the QTL down to the gene level and performing QTL analysis complemented by expression assays a clearer understanding of genetic control of plant architecture is to be gained. Educational Background 2006 – To Date Mphil Crop Science (Genetics and Breeding), University of Ghana 2001 - 2005 BSc. Agricultural Science, University of Ghana 1997 -1999 Senior Secondary School education at Achimota Senior Secondary School, Achimota, Accra Ghana Working Experience 2005 - 2006 -Teaching/Research Assistant for the Crop Science Department 2005 -Resource Personnel for the Postgraduate Biotechnology Curriculum development Workshop 2005 -Rapporteur for the workshop to develop curriculum in Biotechnology Conferences and Seminars Attended - Participant in Marker Assisted Selection Training Workshop on the Use of Molecular Markers for Characterization of Genetic Resources conducted at the Biotechnology Centre, University of Ghana, Legon in conjunction with the Institute for Genomic Diversity Cornell University, USA and funded by Kirkhouse Trust (2^nd – 13^th July 2007). - Resource person and participant at the 3^rd ECOWAS Ministerial Conference on biotechnology on the adoption of the 2006 – 2010 Action Plan for Meeting Challenges of Biotechnology and Biosafety, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Ghana 26^th to 31^st March 2007. - Participant at the Annual Lecture in the Sciences of the Ghana Institute of Horticulturist in collaboration with the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (20^th October 2005). - Participant and a presenter at the 24^th Biennial Conference of the Ghana Science Association (1^st- 4^th August 2005). - Participant and a presenter at a debate on whether Genetically Modified Foods are SAFE for Consumption (November 2003). Paper Published (Eleblu and Danquah 2006). A Review of the Applications of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) In Crop Improvement. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 8. No. 2, pp. 13 – 25. Hobbies - Reading scientific journals and publications. - Swimming and computing.