production goals through basic and
applied science and demonstration,
and, during the previous years, I had
hired a number of excellent principal
investigators in the plant–microbe inter-
action field. I therefore decided to move
away from the plant–microbe focus, and
to concentrate my research on those
natural product pathways that impacted
forage quality, the health of ruminant
animals, and human health. This was
another decision, dictated by circum-
stances, that has paid dividends. The
work I initiated on the biosynthesis and
metabolic engineering of lignin and
proanthocyanidins has been rewarding
as basic science, has moved towards
commercialization through a long-term
research collaboration with Forage
Genetics International, and has had
important implications for plant meta-
bolic engineering in relation to lignocel-
lulosic bioenergy crops (lignin) and
human health (proanthocyanidins).This is certainly more than I envisaged
when I first decided that the plant–
microbe field was too crowded and that
quieter pastures might profitably
be grazed!
Based on my personal experiences, my
advice to young scientists would be to
always stick with what you are passio-
nate about, always try to work with
people who are smarter than you are,
and never turn down opportunities to
adapt your program to emerging appli-
cations. It is also critical to get away
from the lab and clean out your brain
(regularly!). I have had a passion, since
the age of 10, for studying, collecting
and cultivating cacti. I also love hiking,
particularly in mountains. The photo-
graph shows me indulging both of
these passions in the Quartz Mountains
of Southwestern Oklahoma (although I
have to admit that this was during a
short break at a faculty retreat!).LIFE BOX 2.2. MICHAEL L. ARNOLDMichael L. Arnold, Professor of Genetics, University of Georgia
Mike Arnold with Iris nelsonii;
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.
From Whence I Come
In regard to my career as an evolutionary
biologist, I start the clock with the Fall
[1975] semester of my freshman year atTexas Tech University. During this
time period, I fell in love with research
science—sometimes to the detriment of
my participation in classes! My initial
plan was to work with a parasitologist
who specialized in organisms dug from
the rotting remains of farm animals.
However, this professor stood me up
for several scheduled meetings and so I
turned instead to a plant evolutionary
biologist, Professor Raymond Jackson,
and an animal evolutionary biologist,
Professor Robert Baker, as my first two
mentors. Their patience and encourage-
ment helped me to not only finish the
lab work for several research projects,
but to see the research published
in scholarly journals as well. This
taught me the love of discovery and
creation—discovery of facts about the
natural, evolving world and creation ofLIFE BOX 2.2. MICHAEL L. ARNOLD 43