Eric Patterson

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Associate Professor, Weed Geneticist
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Degrees:
B.S. Colorado State University, Evolutionary Biology
M.S. Colorado State University, Botany
Ph.D. Colorado State University, Bioagricultural Sciences, Weed Science

CV:
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Overview of current program:

Dr. Patterson's research program utilizes the most current techniques in genomics to understand the structure and plasticity of weedy genomes and how that plasticity influences the success of weedy species. We are especially interested in how genome rearrangements (i.e. transposable elements and copy number variation) form and are utilized as novel sources of genetic variation for weed adaptation to abiotic stresses. We also work on herbicides and how they affect plant physiology and how resistance evolves on rapid timescales in weedy species. Finally, Dr. Patterson provides technical support for the efforts of the International Weed Genomes Consortium (IWGC).

Courses taught:

CSS326 - Weed Science, Every Fall
CSS893 - Special Topic: Molecular Resistance Evolution

Professional Affiliations and Awards:

International Weed Genomes Consortium
Weed Science Society of America
North Central Weed Science Society

Key Publications:

1. Gaines, Todd A., Eric L. Patterson, and Paul Neve. "Molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution revealed by global selection for glyphosate resistance." New Phytologist 223, no. 4 (2019): 1770-1775.
2. Patterson, Eric L., Christopher A. Saski, Daniel B. Sloan, Patrick J. Tranel, Philip Westra, and Todd A. Gaines. "The draft genome of Kochia scoparia and the mechanism of glyphosate resistance via transposon-mediated EPSPS tandem gene duplication." Genome Biology and Evolution 11, no. 10 (2019): 2927-2940.
3. Zhang, Chun, Nicholas A. Johnson, Nathan Hall, Xingshan Tian, Qin Yu, and Eric L. Patterson. "Subtelomeric 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase copy number variation confers glyphosate resistance in Eleusine indica." Nature Communications 14, no. 1 (2023): 4865.
4. Patterson, Eric L., Margaret B. Fleming, Kallie C. Kessler, Scott J. Nissen, and Todd A. Gaines. "A KASP genotyping method to identify northern watermilfoil, Eurasian watermilfoil, and their interspecific hybrids." Frontiers in plant science 8 (2017): 752.
5. Carvalho-Moore, Pâmela, Ednaldo A. Borgato, Luan Cutti, Aimone Porri, Ingo Meiners, Jens Lerchl, Jason K. Norsworthy, and Eric L. Patterson. "A rearranged Amaranthus palmeri extrachromosomal circular DNA confers resistance to glyphosate and glufosinate." The Plant Cell 37, no. 4 (2025): koaf069.