Dr. Seth O’Conner
Assistant Professor of Biology
seth.oconner@kwc.edu
(270) 852-3158
Yu Hak Hahn 110
Education:
B.S., University of Northwestern St. Paul
Ph.D. in Biology, Mississippi State University
SPIRE Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill
Courses Taught:
Genetics
Microbiology
Immunology
Cellular and Molecular Biology
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology from a private liberal arts college just outside of the Twin Cities. The small class sizes and broad educational training were integral in my intellectual formation. Without close interaction with professors, I would never have pursued a graduate degree in Biology. This has instilled in me the importance of intentional and direct mentorship from faculty. Throughout my training, I have attempted to give this exact type of attention to the many undergraduate students I have mentored and taught.
In my past research I have used both bioinformatic and wet lab approaches to investigate the evolutionary origin and function of Arabidopsis thaliana orphan genes—genes that only exist in a given species or lineage. My evolutionary work introduced a new theory I termed “Mitochondrial Fostering”, whereby plant mitochondrial genomes, which are much larger and more dynamic than their animal counterparts, are involved in the evolution of de novo genes. Further, based on the past functional studies of a particular A. thaliana orphan gene, Qua Quine Starch (QQS), my work helped identify a Glycine max (soybean) transcription factor that, when overexpressed in soybean, led to plants with increased seed
protein, increased broad disease resistance, and expedited maturity. In addition, my project used CRISPR technology to generate non-transgenic soybean plants with increased seed protein content. Altogether, my work demonstrated the evolutionary and practical importance of studying orphan genes in plants.
My postdoctoral training as a SPIRE Fellow at UNC-Chapel Hill allowed me to develop and flesh out my teaching philosophies in the undergraduate classroom and lab. During that time, I was awarded a grant from the Association of Biological Laboratory Education to design a CURE (Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience) course titled, “Plant Biotechnology in Space”. This course, which teaches students to synthesize results obtained through bioinformatic, technical, and molecular experiments, is now being implemented in the Genetics class here at KWC.
I believe by emphasizing the importance of diverse thought and by utilizing many aspects of scientific inquiry, my lab and courses attract and train a diverse group of students while providing them with real and relevant research opportunities utilizing state-of-the-art techniques and equipment.
The O’Conner Lab Research Interests
1. Genetic adaptation to novel environments and the evolution of orphan genes.
a. To study this, we grow a model plant called Arabidopsis thaliana on a clinostat. This simple device mimics microgravity by slowly spinning seedlings as they grow to confuse their sense of gravity. We then utilize Oxford Nanopore Sequencing to analyze epigenetic alterations caused by clinorotation. Upon selection of “genes of interest” concerning spaceflight adaptation, we utilize CRISPR biotechnology to selectively edit these genes.
b. We also investigate the evolution of new genes, often termed orphan genes. Each species has a subset of genes that only exist in that species. We are interested in understanding the evolutionary mechanisms involved in their appearance and function. We investigate these genes in both plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) and animal (Drosophila melanogaster) systems while utilizing bioinformatic and molecular techniques.
2. We also track the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment in collaboration with the PARE network (PARE – Center for Science Education at Tufts University).
a. To do this, we follow the guidelines and modules distributed by the pare network. This work is incorporated into the Microbiology course.
b. We are also developing methods to utilize Oxford Nanopore Sequencing and Metagenomics tools to identify the full scope of antimicrobial genes within our environmental samples. This allows us to uncover antimicrobial resistant genes from all cell types, not just those culturable in the laboratory.
Selected Publications, * Co-first author:
Wang L*, O’Conner S*, Tanvir R, Zheng W, Cothron S, Towery K , Bi H,Ellison E, YangB, Voytas D and Li L (2024) CRISPR/Cas9-based editing of NF-YC4 promoters yields high-protein rice and soybean. New Phytologist, In Press.
O’Conner S, Zheng W, Qi M, Kandel Y, Fuller R, Whitham S, Li L (2021) GmNF-YC4-2 Increases Protein, Exhibits Broad Disease Resistance and Expedites Maturity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(7): 3586. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073586
O’Conner S and Li L (2020) Mitochondrial Fostering: The Mitochondrial Genome May Play a Role in Plant Orphan Gene Evolution. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11: 600117. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.600117.
Qi M, Zheng W, Zhao X, Hohenstein J, Kandel Y, O’Conner S, Wang Y, Du C, Nettleton D, Macintosh G, Tylka G, Wurtele E, Whitham S, Li L (2019) QQS orphan gene and its interactor NF-YC4 reduce susceptibility to pathogens and pests, Plant Biotechnology Journal, 17: 252-263.
Book Chapter:
O’Conner S, Neudorf A, Zheng W, Qi M, Zhao X, Du C, Nettleton D, Li L (2019) From Arabidopsis to crops: the Arabidopsis QQS orphan gene modulates nitrogen allocation across species. In: Shrawat A, Zayed A, Lightfoot DA eds. Engineering Nitrogen Utilization in Crop Plants, Springer.
Selected Presentations, undergraduate mentees are underlined:
Ivey H, Jones C, Liu H, O’Conner S, Campbell K, Kelly L, Mutualistic Dietary Relationships of Honeydew Insects, Invasive Fire Ants, and Invasive Plants in Longleaf Pine Savannas of North Carolina, Entomology Society of America Conference November 2023, Washington D.C, USA (Poster)
Locklear K, Hammet S, O’Conner S, Plants in Space: Developing assays to test effects of microgravity on Arabidopsis thaliana, presented by undergraduate mentees, September 14-16, 2023 S-Stem Scholars Meeting, Washington DC, USA. (Poster)
Strickland A, Anderson T, O’Conner S, CRISPR/Cas9 Cis-Editing in Arabidopsis thaliana, presented by undergraduate mentee, September 14-16, 2023 S-Stem Scholars Meeting, Washington DC, USA. (Poster)
Bonner-Wright A, O’Conner S, Analyses of Plant Orphan Genes in Spaceflight Transcriptomic Datasets, presented by undergraduate mentee, Summer Undergraduate Symposium 2023, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. (Poster)
O’Conner S, Jones C, Investigation of Drosophila melanogaster Gene Conservation Throughout 101 Drosophilid Genomes, IRACDA 2023, San Antonio, TX, USA. (Poster)
Parker R, Pereira M, O’Conner S, Navigating Through D. kikkawa’si Genome with a Fresh Undergraduate Perspective, presented by undergraduate mentee, PURC symposium 2023, UNC Pembroke, Pembroke, NC, USA. (Poster)
Ciriaco-Sanchez A, Anderson T, O’Conner S, Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 to Engineer Early Senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana, presented by undergraduate mentee, PURC symposium 2023, UNC Pembroke, Pembroke, NC, USA. (Poster)
Foggan D, O’Conner S, Utilizing Cis-Editing Techniques to Alter Plant Senescence with CRISPR/CAS9, presented by undergraduate mentee, PURC symposium 2023, UNC at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC, USA; North Carolina Academy of Science Conference, Eastern Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. (Poster)
Foggan D, Pereira M, Anderson T, Gathings T, Strickland A, Zangana B, O’Conner S, Developing Cis-Editing Tools in Arabidopsis thaliana, presented by undergraduate mentee, Summer Undergraduate Symposium2022, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. (Poster)
O’Conner S, Targeting gene regulatory regions with CRISPR in Arabidopsis thaliana, Biology Department Seminar, North Carolina Central University, NC A&T University, UNC Pembroke, and Johnson C. Smith University, Spring 2022.
O’Conner S, Cis-Editing Senescence Associated Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, IRACDA 2022 meeting, Albuquerque, NM, USA. (Poster)
O’Conner S, Li L, Mitochondrial fostering: the mitochondrial genome may be involved in plant orphan gene evolution, International Symposium on Bioinformatics Research 2020 meeting, Moscow, Russia. (Virtual conference due to COVID-19).
O’Conner S, Li L, Mitochondrial fostering: the mitochondrial genome may be involved in plant orphan gene evolution, ICAR 2019 meeting, Wuhan, China; SCMB 2020 meeting, Atlanta, GA. (Poster)
O’Conner S, Zheng W, Qi M, Wurtele E, Whitham S, Li L, A molecular tool to increase protein content and broad disease resistance in crops, PMB (Plant Molecular Biology) Gordon Research Conference 2018 meeting, Holderness, NH, USA. (Poster)
O’Conner S, Zheng W, Li L, Study of orphan gene sheds light on gene evolution, ICAR (International Conference on Arabidopsis Research) 2017 meeting, St. Louis, MO, USA.