Sweet duplication

Sweet duplication Some flowers have a specific hollow outgrowth wherein they store their nectar, a so called nectar spur. How these evolved is often a mystery. Now Colombian researchers show in the journal Annals of Botany that it might be the result of a gene duplication. Flowers of Tropaeolum longifolium can only be divided inContinue reading “Sweet duplication”

Nighttime chills

Dampening the effects of nighttime chills Plants respond strongly to cold during the day. While night time chilling only gets a mild response. Now researchers from the University of Galsgow show in the New Phytologist how alternative splicing of REVEILLE2 dampens the effect of nighttime chill. The circadian clock regulates many aspects of a plantContinue reading “Nighttime chills”

Double break

Double break One of a seedlings first reactions to salt is stepping on the break. Now researchers from Scotland and Italia show in the New Phytologist how the protein HDC1 is regulating how hard the plant is pressing this break. To make sure that stress genes are not accidentally turned on they are decorated byContinue reading “Double break”

Analog or digital

Analog or digital Often, I speak over gene on/off switches. About proteins that enable a gene to be read either more or less often. These gene on/off switches enable an analog regulation of their genes. In addition, a cell has a system to regulate a gene in a more digital manner, having a gene eitherContinue reading “Analog or digital”