Goodenough studies the molecular basis and evolution of life-cycle transitions in the flagellated green soil alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Her lab has cloned genes responsible for gametic differentiation, mate recognition, and uniparental inheritance of chloroplast DNA, allowing them to study their function and their evolution during speciation.

Her lab also recently initiated studies on lipid-body biogenesis in Chlamydomonas, the goal being to contribute to the international effort to produce algal biodiesel as a transportation fuel. We have found conditions that induce a 60-fold increase in triacylglycerol biosynthesis,and seek to identify the molecular pathways and environmental conditions involved in this stimulus.

Visit laboratory website here.