In the lab we employ molecular biology tools to study the genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites in plants. These include cloning, gene expression, and protein purification techniques. We also use gene silencing and genome editing approaches such as RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR-Cas9 to investigate the functions of specific genes. These methods provide us with valuable insights into the complex biosynthetic pathways of specialized metabolites, which can help us develop applications for medicine and agriculture.