Working in the lab of a Nobel laureate during her postdoctoral studies taught Dr. Dorothy Shippen to “keep an eye open for the extraordinary.” So when a colleague at a molecular biology conference in the early 1990s asked her about plant telomeres, Shippen decided to follow the curiosity the question inspired.
Shippen, a scientist in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, has spent the last three-plus decades studying telomeres, which are the DNA and protein structures found at the ends of chromosomes. Like plastic tips on shoelaces, telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from becoming frayed and unstable. They usually become shorter over a person’s life, and the lengths are associated with aging and susceptibility to certain diseases.
Dr. Dorothy Shippen
The findings of Shippen’s telomere research have been wide-reaching. She identified a gene involved in telomere replication that is critical to stem cell function, which has implications for human diseases. Another study found that the protein responsible for replenishing telomeres protects plant cells from damage caused by exposure to cosmic radiation during space travel.
“Understanding how plants adapt to hostile environments is not just for the dream of potential lunar or Martian colonies,” said Dr. Julie Howe, professor and associate department head in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, who collaborated with Shippen. “It can also help inform our approach to improving crop resilience amid environmental changes around the world.”
Shippen’s career in plant molecular biology has driven scientific progress and inspired the next generation of researchers. Numerous organizations have recognized her mentorship and commitment to training young scientists.
Her advice to emerging scientists: keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
Learn more about Shippen’s legacy of research, mentorship and curiosity-driven science on AgriLife Today.
