Navigation Links
How size matters
Date:12/12/2007

The beauty of nature is partly due to the uniformity of leaf and flower size in individual plants, and scientists have discovered how plants arrive at these aesthetic proportions.

Researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have discovered that cells at the margins of leaves and petals play a particularly important role in setting their size.

The remarkable uniformity of leaves and flowers helps us to tell different species apart, such as daisies and marguerites, which look very similar otherwise. We are now uncovering how the genetic blueprint of a species tightly controls the size of leaves and flowers, says Dr. Michael Lenhard, who led the research.

The cells at the margins seem to secrete a mobile growth signal that keeps the cells throughout the leaf dividing. The more of this signal is produced, the larger the leaves and flowers get.

Surprisingly, this signal seems to be distinct from the classical and well-studied plant hormones that are known to influence growth and development.

As the signal only seems to come in from the margins, we suggest it gets diluted as the leaf or petal grows. Once the concentration falls below a certain threshold, the cells in the leaf or petal stop dividing. This would be a simple way of measuring the size of a growing organ, says Dr. Lenhard. Its a bit like adding more and more tonic to a gin and tonic until you can no longer taste the gin.

Strikingly, animals seem to use the same principle of dilution for measuring size, for example of the wings in a fly, although the molecules used are very different.

Efforts are under way to use this discovery to increase leaf growth in biofuel crops for the generation of sustainable energy and to boost the yield of fruits and seeds.


'/>"/>

Contact: Dr. Michael Lenhard
michael.lenhard@bbsrc.ac.uk
44-160-345-0524
Norwich BioScience Institutes
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1

Related biology news :

1. Primate sperm competition: speed matters
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/19/2013)... study reports that white men and women of European ... valgus) and lesser toe deformities, including hammer or claw ... estimate the heritability of foot disorders in humansappear in ... by Wiley on behalf of the American College of ... many as 60% of older adults have foot disorders ...
(Date:5/18/2013)... today at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) explores new discoveries ... of coffee on autoimmune disease and palliative care for ... been associated with reduced risk of fibrosis, a new ... java each month also correlate with lower risk for ... Clinic, Rochester, MN, linked coffee consumption with reduced risk ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... South, but the night belongs to the amphibians. In ... humidity and the sounds of wildlife. , The Southeast, ... salamanders, is the center of amphibian biodiversity in our nation. ... their symphonic choruses, the scientists of the U.S. Geological Survey,s ... , Amphibians, which rely on water for part ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Blame your parents for bunion woes 2Coffee consumption associated with reduced risk of autoimmune liver disease 2Front-row seats to climate change 2Front-row seats to climate change 3Front-row seats to climate change 4
... soon be able to wear contact lenses that continuously ... changing colours replacing the need to routinely draw ... by Chemical and Biochemical Engineering professor Jin Zhang at ... embedded into the hydrogel lenses. These engineered nanoparticles ...
... the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) enzyme have defects in their ... T and B lymphocytes, the major players involved in ... UCLA,s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. The finding could ... body attacks itself, and possibly certain cancers of the ...
... common minerals in biology, including those in bones and shells, have ... making them behave as one giant crystal, even though they do ... grains of salt were spilled on a rug, yet instead of ... rotation. In a new study in the Journal ...
Cached Biology News:Enzyme necessary for development of healthy immune system 2Enzyme necessary for development of healthy immune system 3Dental delight: Tooth of sea urchin shows formation of biominerals 2Dental delight: Tooth of sea urchin shows formation of biominerals 3
(Date:5/20/2013)... May 20, 2013 Today, at the American ... , James McGough , M.D., ... the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and ... at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and ... Adolescent Psychopharmacology and ADHD at UCLA, presented the results ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... , May 20, 2013   BioHealth ... focusing on commercializing market-relevant biohealth innovations and increasing ... Maryland , today announced its selection of ... (EIR) for BHI at the National Institutes of ... Institute (NHLBI). Dr. Aiyar will help advance ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Researchers from the Southern University of Denmark have ... the acne causing P.acnes bacteria. Researchers believe found that when ... oxygen deprived location to seek shelter and grow. When an ... ability to live in the open joint areas, causing inflammation ... The best acne treatment ” explains why starting a normal ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... The World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) ... Baird as Executive Director. Baird will assume leadership ... The WMIS vision is to encompass and promote preclinical ... treat diseases in the developed and developing world. ... 2011 by integrating the Academy of Molecular Imaging and ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 2Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 3Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 4Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 5BioHealth Innovation, Inc. Names Ram Aiyar as Entrepreneur-in-Residence to NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 2BioHealth Innovation, Inc. Names Ram Aiyar as Entrepreneur-in-Residence to NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 3BioHealth Innovation, Inc. Names Ram Aiyar as Entrepreneur-in-Residence to NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 4Adult Acne Treatment, Probiotic Action Shares New Insight How Treating Acne May Help Reduce Body Pain 2WMIS Appoints Lisa Baird as Next Executive Director 2
... , May 18, 2010 , , ... - With Photo , , , ... safety device is now cleared by FDA for Home/Self use and is,consequently available to all ... dislodgement,during hemodialysis and its use has already improved in-clinic patient,safety. Optimizing safety conditions for home ...
... ... highly specialized metal tubing and innovative suppliers with ultra-fine finishing capabilities , ... (PRWEB) -- The increased miniaturization ... off in many ways. One of the integral items that have helped to ...
... , ... METTLER TOLEDO announced a collaboration to combine their existing technologies to offer flow reactor ... production. , ... (PRWEB) -- ThalesNano and METTLER TOLEDO announced a partnership to offer flow reactor technology ...
Cached Biology Technology:Redsense Medical Receives FDA Clearance for the Redsense Safety Device for Home/Self use During Home Hemodialysis 2Ultra-Fine Metal Tubing Smoothes the Way for Miniaturized Medical Devices 2Ultra-Fine Metal Tubing Smoothes the Way for Miniaturized Medical Devices 3METTLER TOLEDO and ThalesNano Bring Real-time Reaction Monitoring to Flow Synthesis 2METTLER TOLEDO and ThalesNano Bring Real-time Reaction Monitoring to Flow Synthesis 3METTLER TOLEDO and ThalesNano Bring Real-time Reaction Monitoring to Flow Synthesis 4
Marmoset plasma and serum - various quantities available...
3'-O-Methylguanosine 5'-Triphosphate, Sodium, 1 umol. Category: Nucleotides & Enzymes & Biochemicals, Nucleotides, Additional Nucleotide Products....
Natural Mouse Laminin is purified from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) sarcoma and is provided in Tris-buffered saline....
EPH electrode, cathode, 1. Category: Electrophoresis Systems & Standards & Reagents, IEF & SDS-PAGE & 2-D Electrophoresis, Multiphor II Kits & Components and Accessories....
Biology Products: