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School of Life Sciences

Professor Jose Gutierrez-Marcos

Professor of Genetics and Epigenetics

Email: J.F.Gutierrez-Marcos@warwick.ac.uk 

Phone: 024 765 75077

Office: C102

Twitter: @jfgumarc

Gutierrez-Marcos webpage

Research Clusters

Cells & Development (Cluster Lead)

Plant & Agricultural BioSciences

Quantitative, Systems & Engineering Biology

Environment & Ecology

Vacancies and Opportunities

For PhD and postdoctoral opportunities, and interest in potential collaborations, please contact me at the above email address.

Research Interests

We are interested in addressing a key question in biology: how are development and environmental responses coordinated across diverse cell types in multicellular organisms? To explore this, we employ interdisciplinary approaches that combine quantitative epi/genomic profiling, computational modelling, and targeted genome engineering to dissect—and ultimately design—regulatory modules capable of generating novel phenotypes.

Our research focuses on two fundamental biological processes:
(i) how cell-to-cell communication coordinates development, and
(ii) how complex organisms integrate, store, and retrieve environmental information.

Research: Technical Summary

We are interested in understanding how organisms develop and how they respond to fluctuating environmental stimuli. In particular, our research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying genetic and epigenetic variation in plants, and on how this variation influences developmental and physiological outcomes throughout their life cycles.

A core area of research in the group is the study of (epi)genetic regulation, memory, and plasticity. We use quantitative epi/genomics, computational modelling, and targeted genome engineering to dissect how chromatin states and epigenetic marks- such as DNA methylation and histone modifications- are established, maintained, or reset across development and generations.

One strand of our work examines the origins and consequences of epigenetic variation. We have shown that incomplete resetting of organ-specific epigenetic marks can occur during developmental reprogramming, both in nature and under tissue culture conditions. Because many crop species are propagated asexually, this hidden epigenetic variation can give rise to novel, heritable phenotypes that persist across multiple sexual generations.

We are also exploring cell-to-cell communication and developmental plasticity, particularly how meristem activity and axillary bud outgrowth are regulated. Insights from this work are guiding efforts to manipulate plant and inflorescence architecture to optimise yield potential and resource use efficiency.

Finally, our research on cell-to-cell RNA signalling in maize reproductive development provides a mechanistic basis for understanding thermosensitive genetic male sterility (TGMS) in cereals. This knowledge is paving the way for the design of molecular tools to enable efficient hybrid seed production without reliance on cytoplasmic sterility systems, ultimately supporting the creation of high-yielding and climate-resilient hybrid cereals through targeted epi/genetic manipulation.

  • Professor, University of Warwick (2020-present)
  • Academic Leader, Habitability GRP (2019-present)
  • Reader, University of Warwick (2017-2020)
  • Associate Professor, University of Warwick (2009-present)
  • Assistant Professor, University of Warwick (2007-2008)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Oxford, U.K. (1997-2007)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of St. Andrews, U.K. (1994-1997)
  • Visiting Researcher, University of California, Berkley, USA (1993-1994)
  • PhD, Genetics, Universidad de Leon, Spain (1990-1994)

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