Chris Randle

Chris Randle is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Sam Houston State University. His office is located in the Life Sciences Building, room 400E. He holds a Ph.D. in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology from The Ohio State University and a B.A. in Biology from Hiram College.

His research focuses on the ecological and evolutionary implications of parasitism in plants. Key areas include:

• Evolution and taxonomy of the tropical clade of Orobanchaceae, which includes diverse growth forms (trees, shrubs, vines, herbs) and transitions from hemiparasitism to holoparasitism, allowing study of chloroplast genome changes.
• Host range and preference of leafy mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum), with regional variations in host selection potentially driven by volatile compounds and other host stimuli.

At SHSU, Professor Randle teaches the following courses:

• BIOL1411 General Botany
• BIOL3450 Introductory Genetics
• BIOL4361 Introduction to Evolutionary Theory
• BIOL4480 Molecular Biology
• BIOL5350 Plant Evolution
• BIOL5360 Principles of Systematics
• BIOL5391 Population Genetics