Glowing plants show immune responses at infection sites in two colors
In short
- The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences developed a more accurate glowing biological reporter.
- It tracks gene activity in living plants over days, weeks and potentially months or years.
- Researchers could use it to study plant responses to disease, pests and environmental stress.
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The method makes glowing reporters more accurate, so gene activity can be followed in the same living plant for a long time. That lets researchers watch immune responses build up and fade around an infection. The approach could also suit animal and human disease models, according to the report.
From Phys.org
Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) have developed a new way to make glowing biological reporters more accurate, allowing scientists to track gene activity in living plants over days, weeks and potentially even months and years. The approach could help researchers study how plants respond to disease, pests and environmental stress, while opening the door to similar applications in animal and human disease models.
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For kids
Scientists found a way to make plants glow in two colors. The glow shows when a plant's defenses turn on near an infection. This helps them learn how plants stay healthy. What do you think plants do when they feel sick?
