Rebecca Saunders

MSc Student

Email: rebeccasmsaunders1@outlook.com
LinkedIn

Projects

Comparison of CRISPR systems in woody perennials

Research Interests

Woody perennial plants hold ecological and industrial importance, but to fill these roles, they must be locally adapted, and their wood must be processed efficiently for industrial use. However, climate change can disrupt their growth cycles and current wood breakdown methods require many chemical processing steps. To address these challenges, genetic editing can be employed to enhance climate resilience and make wood processing more sustainable. CRISPR systems are currently the most used in research and are diverse in nature, with each offering varied capabilities.

My interests lie in optimizing gene-editing in woody perennials by comparing two CRISPR types with different advantages. Poplar is a woody perennial model system and is used to study wood, which is mainly composed of secondary cell walls (SCWs). Thus, by understanding SCW synthesis, we can engineer improved wood processing traits. A common way to test a gene’s function is to knock it out with CRISPR and link the resulting traits to the gene’s role. Thus, to compare CRISPR systems in woody perennials and test XOAT-similar poplar genes, these genes will be knocked out with both CRISPR systems. CRISPR systems will be assessed on how consistently they can knock out the genes and whether they mutate unintended targets. Then, chemical and phenotypic analyses on poplar knockouts will inform gene function in planta.

Education

BSc in Biotechnology (Honours) | University of British Columbia, Canada (2024)

Diploma of Technology, Honours in Biotechnology | British Columbia Institute of Technology, Canada (2022)

Selected Publications and Conference Presentations

Wenzel, C; Mo, A*; Chan, B*; Xia, A*; Westgate, C*; Saunders, R*; Ly, H*; Holloway, D. (2025). Production of the stem in Norway spruce. Trees (Springer)- Submitted

Wenzel, C; Xia, A*; Saunders, R*; Ly, H*; Mo, A*; Holloway, D. (2024). Needle and bud scale development in Picea abies. Trees (Springer). 38(3): 777-792.

Boldut, R*; Samedi, S*; Saunders, R*; Mao, L*. (2023). Towards the construction of a chitin-binding domain BioBrick®: PCR Amplification of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chiC chitin-binding domain. The Undergraduate Journal of Experimental Microbiology & Immunology. 9: 4.

Holloway, D; Saunders, R*; Wenzel, C. (2023). Size regulation of the lateral organ initiation zone and its role in determining cotyledon number in conifers. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14: Article 1166226.

Poster presentation: Towards the construction of a chitin-binding domain BioBrick®: PCR Amplification of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chiC chitin-binding domain. 2023 Microbiology and Immunology Undergraduate Research Symposium, Vancouver, Canada, 2023

Awards, Grants, Scholarships

  • Dean’s List University of British Columbia Prize / Award – 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023,
  • Undergraduate Student Research Award, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Prize / Award – 2021
  • Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students -2022, 2023, 2024
  • BC Access Grant for Full-Time Students – 2022, 2023, 2024