Question: will this project make a difference?

Steven Kiddle answered on 14 Jun 2010:

You can never be sure, but i certainly hope so. The two ways it could make a difference are:

– If we understand how to make plants resistant to disease then we will be producing alot more food, right now we are facing problems including climate change and population growth, both of which will put a huge strain on food production. So it may save lives if it works well.
– Some of the methods i have developed to predict gene regulation can be applied to animals (including humans) as well as plants, so if it helps researchers it may indirectly make a difference.