The Arabidopsis redox-sensitive bZIP68 protein: does it function as a redox sensor in the oxidative stress response? (PI: Professor Yiji Xia) Redox signaling occurs when cellular redox homeostasis is perturbed. Redox signaling has increasingly been recognized as an important mechanism…

Molecular characterization of hybrid male sterility and inviability produced by X-linked introgression between C. briggsae and C. sp.9 (PI: Dr. Zhongying Zhao) It is well known that closely related species are able to mate with each other but their hybrid…

Regulation and functional role of Arabidopsis miR163 and its targets in plant defense (PI: Dr. Danny Ng) In plants, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators in various aspects of growth and development. miR163, a recently evolved miRNA, is highly…

Managing pharmaceutical waste from households in Hong Kong (PI: Dr. CHUNG Shan Shan) Environmental contamination by pharmaceutical residues (PRs) represents an emerging concern for sustainability of public health and the environment, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas. Recent studies have confirmed…

The “Century Club Young Scientist Challenge Cup (2013 – 2014)” held on Thursday, 9th January 2014 was a great success! The competition provided a great opportunity for science undergraduate students to apply interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary science and technology knowledge into…

Extra Large G Protein 2 ( XLG2) in plant immunity: what is its molecular mode of action? (PI: Professor Yiji Xia) Humans use a large number of heterotrimeric G proteins for transducing various extracellular signals perceived by G protein-coupled receptors…

Matagenomic-metatranscriptomic analysis of the acidogenic reactor in a two-phase anaerobic digestion process (PI: Professor Jonathan Wong) On global basis, about 1.3 billion tonnes of MSW (municipal solid waste) is produced every year. Of these, food wastes represent 30-50% (~40% in…

Mechanism of WRKY factors-mediated defense and heterosis in Arabidopsis polyploids (PI: Dr. Danny Ng) Heterosis or hybrid vigor describes the development of superior traits in progeny from crosses between two different species. Although this phenomenon is commonly used for improving…