Jonathan D.G. Jones
Encyclopedia
Professor Jonathan Dallas George Jones FRS is a senior scientist at the Sainsbury Laboratory
in Norwich
using molecular and genetic approaches to study disease resistance in plants. He, along with collaborator Jeffery Dangl
, proposed the “zig-zag model” for the co-evolution of plant resistance genes and pathogen effectors. He also proposed the “Guard Hypothesis”, which provides a testable explanation for how plants overcome the large number of arms used by pathogens to evoke disease while having only a limited set of plant proteins to defend itself.
He received his Ph.D from Cambridge University in 1980, under the direction of G Dover and R B Flavell, and conducted postdoctoral work at Harvard. Head of Sainsbury Laboratory 1994-7, 2003 – present, and Professor at University of East Anglia
1997- . He has been editor of The Plant Cell
and
Genome Biology
.
, outlining his stance on genetically modified (GM) food crops
. In the piece, Jones argued that if we are to 'feed the planet without destroying it... we need to use every tool in our toolbox, including GM'.
Sainsbury Laboratory
The Sainsbury Laboratory located at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, Norfolk, England is a world leading institute working on plant-microbe interactions....
in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
using molecular and genetic approaches to study disease resistance in plants. He, along with collaborator Jeffery Dangl
Jeffery Dangl
Jeffery L. "Jeff" Dangl is an American biologist. He is currently John N. Couch Professor of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dangl earned his BAS of Biological Sciences and Modern Literature, MS of Biological Sciences, and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University...
, proposed the “zig-zag model” for the co-evolution of plant resistance genes and pathogen effectors. He also proposed the “Guard Hypothesis”, which provides a testable explanation for how plants overcome the large number of arms used by pathogens to evoke disease while having only a limited set of plant proteins to defend itself.
He received his Ph.D from Cambridge University in 1980, under the direction of G Dover and R B Flavell, and conducted postdoctoral work at Harvard. Head of Sainsbury Laboratory 1994-7, 2003 – present, and Professor at University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
1997- . He has been editor of The Plant Cell
The Plant Cell
The Plant Cell is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of plant biology, especially the areas of cell and molecular biology, genetics, development, and evolution. It is published by the American Society of Plant Biologists...
and
Genome Biology
Genome Biology
Genome Biology is an online partially open access scientific journal that publishes original, peer-reviewed research in genomics. It is published by BioMed Central , and is currently the BMC journal with the highest impact factor...
.
Positions
- International Society of Plant Molecular Biology Board Member 1995-8
- Plant Journal Advisory Board 1995-8
- Editor of Plant Cell July 1998 -2004
- Current Opinion in Plant Biology (COPB) Editorial Board 1997–present
- Invited Editor for COPB Plant/microbe interaction issue 1998
- Editor of Genome Biology 2001-2004
- Reviewing manuscripts and grant proposals
- Member of scientific advisory board of Mendel Biotechnology, Inc.Mendel Biotechnology, Inc.Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a biotechnology company, founded in 1997, and based in Hayward, California. The company has undertaken research into transcription factors, and have patented their use of transcription factor-based technologies in manipulating crop plant traits.Since its inception,...
, a company that is collaborating with MonsantoMonsantoThe Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
Media
In July 2010, Professor Jones contributed an opinion piece to BBC News OnlineBBC News Online
BBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
, outlining his stance on genetically modified (GM) food crops
Genetically modified food
Genetically modified foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms . Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques...
. In the piece, Jones argued that if we are to 'feed the planet without destroying it... we need to use every tool in our toolbox, including GM'.