scipak:

What determines a cell’s fate — nature or nurture? According to a new study, it is the environment rather than a cell’s lineage that turns the cells of a plant’s anther, or male reproductive organ, into germ cells necessary for reproduction. Timothy Kelliher and Virginia Walbot show that, unlike animals, which establish and maintain a lineage of germ cells during their development, plants take cues from the oxygen levels in their anthers in order to create germ cells after they’ve matured.

Read more about this research from the 20 July issue of Sciencehere.

[Image courtesy of Virginia Walbot. Click the image for more information.]

© 2012 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All Rights Reserved.

SCIENCE! Brought to you by plants pseudo-amorously making smaller, baby plants. —MN

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    SCIENCE! Brought...pseudo-amorously making smaller, baby plants. —MN

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