Edward Buckler

Edward Buckler is a prominent geneticist and plant biologist known for his significant contributions to the field of quantitative genetics and genomics. His research primarily focuses on understanding the genetic basis of complex traits in plants, particularly in maize (corn).

Early Life and Education

Edward Buckler was born in the United States. He developed an early interest in biology and genetics, which led him to pursue higher education in these fields. Buckler earned his B.Sc. in biology from North Carolina State University. He then went on to complete his Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics at Cornell University.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Buckler joined the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a research geneticist. He also holds a position as an adjunct professor at Cornell University, where he collaborates with other researchers and mentors graduate students.

Buckler's work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of the genetic architecture of complex traits in plants. He has developed and applied various quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association study (GWAS) techniques to identify genes associated with important agricultural traits.

Research Contributions

One of Buckler's most notable contributions is his work on the genetic diversity of maize. He has led efforts to sequence and analyze the genomes of numerous maize varieties, providing valuable insights into the genetic basis of traits such as yield, disease resistance, and drought tolerance.

Buckler has also been involved in the development of genomic selection methods, which use genetic information to predict the performance of plant varieties. These methods have the potential to accelerate the breeding of new crop varieties with desirable traits.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Edward Buckler has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to plant genetics and genomics. Some of these include:

• The National Academy of Sciences membership
• The American Society of Plant Biologists Fellow
• The USDA Distinguished Scientist Award

Personal Life

Edward Buckler is married and has children. He enjoys outdoor activities and is an advocate for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.

See Also

• Genetics
• Genomics
• Maize
• Quantitative trait locus
• Genome-wide association study
• Genomic selection