Microbial Molecule Turns Plants Into Zombies: The Curse That Might Contain a Cure
Zombie plants, witches’ brooms and the curse that might contain a cure. A newly discovered manipulation mechanism used by parasitic bacteria to slow down plant…
John Innes Centre
Century-Old Mysterious Puzzle Solved: How Sex Cells Get the Right Genetic Mix
A new discovery explains what determines the number and position of genetic exchanges that occur in sex cells, such as pollen and eggs in plants,…
How Information Beyond the Genetic Sequence Is Encoded in Plant Sperm and Passed Down the Generations
Hereditary information is passed from parent to offspring in the genetic code, DNA, and epigenetically through chemically induced modifications around the DNA. New research from…
Solving a Long-Standing Biological Mystery: How Cells Measure Themselves
Ever since scientists discovered cells under the microscope more than 350 years ago, they have noted that each type of cell has a characteristic size….
Virus Infection Cycle Revealed in Incredible Dynamic Detail
A critical process in the infection cycle of viruses has been revealed for the first time in dynamic detail using pioneering plant-based technology. Evidence about…
The First Frost Is the Deepest – New Discovery May Help Us Grow Crops in Fluctuating Climate
The first frost of autumn may be grim for gardeners but the latest evidence reveals it is a profound event in the life of plants….
Pioneering Pollinator Research Reveals Genetic Clues to Darwin’s “Abominable Mystery”
Research into the flower preferences of pollinating moths may have delivered a vital clue to the simple factors needed for the emergence of new species….
Bacteria Can Tell the Time With Internal Biological Clocks
Humans have them, so do other animals and plants. Now research reveals that bacteria too have internal clocks that align with the 24-hour cycle of…
Pioneering Research Investigates How a Plant-Based Diet Could Prevent Chronic Illness
The John Innes Centre will co-lead a pioneering research program investigating how a plant-based diet could prevent chronic illness. The Edesia: Plants, Food and Health…
Fascinating Study of Carnivorous Plants Captures Universal Rules of Leaf Making [Video]
Leaves display a remarkable range of forms from flat sheets with simple outlines to the cup-shaped traps found in carnivorous plants. A general question in…
Deadliest Crop Killing Viruses Revealed at High Resolution for the First Time
For the first time, we can take a molecular-level look at one of the world’s deadliest crop killers. The Luteoviridae are pathogenic plant viruses responsible…