Renowned Biologist Appointed First Jarislowsky Chair In Biotechnology

Posted September 18, 2002


2002-09-13-AR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -Tuesday, September 17, 2002

Renowned Biologist Appointed First Jarislowsky Chair In Biotechnology

Larry Fowke, a world-class University of Saskatchewan biologist whose work
has led to promising new tools for forest regeneration, has been named the
university's first Jarislowsky Chair in Biotechnology.

The new Chair, the third at U of S related to biotechnology, has been
created to promote the research and teaching of the College of
Biotechnology, and help attract students and faculty to the field. The
appointment is for one year.

Funding is through a $1-million endowment set up with $500,000 from the
Montreal-based Jarislowsky Foundation and matched by the Saskatchewan
government from funds previously provided to the College of Biotechnology.


The announcement was made today by Graham Scoles, Dean of the College of
Biotechnology, at the 4th Agricultural Biotechnology International
Conference in Saskatoon.

"One of the world's most distinguished plant cell biologists, Prof. Fowke
has played a key role in the establishment and recognition of the University
of Saskatchewan as an international centre for agricultural biotechnology,"
said Scoles. "He brings to this position a reputation for excellence in both
cell biology and biotechnology, and a research program that is recognized
worldwide."

Fowke's lab was the first in the world to isolate a particular plant
membrane-bound structure called a coated vesicle and show how it takes
material into cells. His current focus is on manipulating cell division
during seed development in order to increase seed size in plants, work that
could improve seed crop yields. In this work, he will collaborate with U of
S biochemist Hong Wang.

Along with a former research associate, Fowke pioneered and patented new
methods for propagating coniferous trees such as spruce, using a tissue
culture technique known as somatic embryogenesis. With this cloning
technique, one seed can be used to produce thousands of identical embryos
that can be grown into trees. Embryos produced at different times can be
dried and stored, and then germinated all at once in the spring to provide
cloned plants of uniform size.

The technology offers benefits to the forestry industry including unlimited
and year-round embryo production, speed to market in introducing genetically
superior trees, and better tree breeding. Potentially, selected genes could
be introduced into the cloned embryos, leading to trees with disease and
pest resistance.

Four U.S. patents based on the research have been issued and a Canadian tree
nursery company in Victoria is presently commercializing this technology.

Fowke holds a U of S Distinguished Researcher Award and was a finalist this
year for the Innovation Place/UST Award of Innovation. He has been nominated
twice for the U of S Students Union Teaching Excellence Award.

A competition to select a Jarislowsky Chair for next year is currently
underway. The Jarislowsky Foundation was set up by Stephen Jarislowsky, an
engineer, financier, journalist and philanthropist who has endowed many
chairs at Canadian universities.

The U of S College of Biotechnology brings together a wide range of
scientific and social disciplines to deliver undergraduate degree programs,
graduate supervision and contributions to the public debate. In its first
two years, it has produced 34 graduates. For more information, visit:
http://biotechnology.usask.ca/

-30-

For more information, contact:

Professor Larry Fowke
Biology Department
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4402

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President (Research)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca