Early division Cells within organisms only divide when they have a certain amount of stem cell identity. Now Dutch researchers show in Development that the PLETHORA genes are turning on this stem cell identity directly after fertilisation. To keep control over their shape, organisms tightly control which cells are allowed to divide. In general thisContinue reading “Early division”
Tag Archives: Paper review
Old clones
Old clones A group of international researchers discovered that an eelgrass colony is about 1400 years old. They managed this feat due to the developing an new age determination method for clones that they published in Nature and Ecology & Evolution. For organisms that multiply by cloning themselves it is difficult to determine their age.Continue reading “Old clones”
Pollen navigation
Pollen navigation Multiple fertilizations of an ovule do not contribute to healthy offspring. Plants therefore have taken measures to prevent this. Now researchers from Japan show how a plant manages this. The landing of a pollen grain on a pistil of a flower is only the first hurdle of fertilization. After landing the pollen grainContinue reading “Pollen navigation”
Sensing temperature
Sensing temperature When heat strikes plants can not just find a place in the shade. Instead they initiate their heat protocol. Now German and French researchers report in Nature that they found one of the switches of this protocol. One of the things that the heat stress protocol regulates is making sure that not toContinue reading “Sensing temperature”