Mutants growing in the lab of UT biology professor Alan Lloyd are considerably less dangerous than the crime-fighting type featured in X-men comics. But Lloyd’s mutants—genetically-altered plants—have the potential to benefit society as much as any “X-man.”

The scientific information the plants eventually provide could be used to improve crops by enabling them to resist to disease, insects and harsh weather, Lloyd said. The crops could possibly provide increased production capabilities as well.

In a closet-sized, brightly lit room near Lloyd’s lab, shelves are lined with rows and rows of plants in small containers. There looks to be a wide variety; some leaves are deep purple, some yellow, and some stems are abnormally covered with trichomes, or plant hairs. In reality they are the same plant—Arabidopsis. The illusion of variety is evidence of genetic alteration.

“A lot of what we do is genetics,” Lloyd said. The researchers in his lab study Arabidopsis because the “model” plant contains most parts and processes found in all plants, including crops.

By carefully breeding plants with certain characteristics, then studying subsequent generations, Lloyd’s research workers are removing sets of genes. They then discover the functions of those genes, Lloyd said. The knowledge will enable scientists to purposefully remove or add certain genes to produce desired results.

“There’s the potential for a pretty direct link for some of this stuff,” Lloyd said. The lab plans to make seeds of plants with a variety of genetic alterations available for other researchers seeking to study Arabidopsis genetics.

Stan Roux, UT biology professor, said he used to work across the hall from Lloyd, and the two collaborated on projects. Lloyd’s expertise in molecular genetics and development assisted Roux’s research.

“He was able to provide us with insights and skills and techniques that allowed us to become more molecular genetic in our approach to the problems we were trying to solve,” Roux said.

Unlike some professors, Lloyd still finds time to work in the lab because he can work for a few days, and then take a break while plants grow, he said. However, it’s not much of a break; Lloyd has his hands full with the many roles he plays—professor, researcher, graduate advisor and domestic recruiter.

He mentors four graduate and four undergraduate students who work in his lab. He said he likes to treat his students as if they were on “equal footing.” Lloyd may help them decide what direction a project should take, but it’s up to students to come up with basic research ideas and figure out how to accomplish their goals. Of course, Lloyd helps with any questions along the way.

“I’m always here,” Lloyd said. “My door’s always open.”

Tony Gonzales, a 4th-year graduate student who has worked in Lloyd’s lab off and on since his undergraduate years, said Lloyd’s teaching style allows students to be independent and pursue their interests.

“It’s a good mix of guidance and letting you roam,” Gonzales said. He said Lloyd is still just as available to his research team even though he’s become a graduate advisor and domestic recruiter in the past year.

Lloyd is responsible for advising all 1st-year graduate students in the Cell and Molecular Biology program. He coordinates student rotations among labs of different CMB professors, and helps students overcome any problems that arise. The job has taken more time than he thought it would, he said, but he thinks it will be easier in the coming year.

“With any new role you have to kind of fit yourself into it,” Lloyd said. That’s probably also true for the domestic recruiting position that he assumed in the last year.

He helps advertise the CMB graduate program to prospective students, handles applications, and coordinates visits for students interested in the program. He also participates on the team that evaluates prospective students and chooses who gets accepted.

With all that work, Lloyd still finds time to teach a class just for the fun of it. The class, called history of the banjo, teaches students to play and follows the instrument’s history from its African roots to the modern day. He’s played the banjo since he was a child, he said.

“It’s just a fun thing I do on the side,” he said.