Professor Robert Jinkerson and assistant professor Tingting Xiang led a team at UC Riverside to identify the gene that allows dinoflagelates , a type of marine algae to produce chlorophyll C along with A and B. This newly discovered ability allows genetically modifed plants to absorb more sunlight leading to increased growth.

Ernst Leibacher's agricultural impact to UCR by funding Ernst and Helen Leibacher Endowed chair in Botany and Plant Sciences. Natasha Raikhel, founder and director of the Center for Plant Cell Biology used funds by the Leibachers to start initial work on bioinformatics proteomics, chemical genomics, and advanced microscopy research. Today, IIGB director Katayoon (Katie) Dehesh...