Scientists Uncover Atomic Secrets of Photosynthesis
The mysteries of photosynthesis have been unveiled at the atomic level, providing significant new insights into this plant super-power that transformed the Earth into a…
John Innes Centre News
The John Innes Centre is a world-leading independent research center in plant science, genetics, and microbiology, located in Norwich, UK. Founded in 1910 and originally located in Merton, South London, the center was named after John Innes, a philanthropist and landowner who bequeathed his estate for the development of a horticultural institution. The centre is particularly known for its contributions to plant science, especially in the areas of developmental biology and genetic understanding of plants. It operates with the mission to generate knowledge of plants and microbes through innovative research, to train scientists for the future, and to apply its knowledge to benefit agriculture, the environment, human health, and well-being. The John Innes Centre has played a pivotal role in pioneering research, such as the discovery and development of floral dip transformation in Arabidopsis thaliana, which is a cornerstone technique in plant genetics.
Bioengineering Breakthrough: Tobacco Plants Synthesize Vaccine Powerhouse QS-21
Soap bark discovery offers a sustainability booster for the global vaccine market, opening unprecedented opportunities for bioengineering vaccine adjuvants. A valuable molecule sourced from the…
Unexpected Genetic Discovery Opens New Opportunities for Human Health
An unexpected genetic discovery in wheat has led to opportunities for the metabolic engineering of versatile compounds with the potential to improve its nutritional qualities…
Starch Breakthrough: Discovery Could Revolutionize Human Health and Industry
Recent research has illuminated the longstanding question of how starch granules develop in the seeds of Triticeae crops – including wheat, barley, and rye. This…
Scientists Uncover “Astonishing” Complexity of Bacterial Circadian Clocks
Over 10% of all life forms are composed of bacteria, but it wasn’t until recently that we came to understand that, similar to humans, soil…
Obscure Aquatic Plant Unveils Plant Growth Secret
An obscure aquatic plant has shed light on how plants prevent cracking due to the stresses and strains associated with growth. This discovery was made…
Opening the Door for Anti-Cancer Drugs: The Secret Recipe for Limonoids
New research has revealed the secret of how plants make limonoids, a group of valuable organic chemicals. These chemicals, which include bee-friendly insecticides, have potential…
Researchers Unlock the Evolutionary Secrets of a Cancer-Fighting Chinese Medical Herb
UK and Chinese researchers have unlocked the evolutionary secrets behind the medicinal herb barbed skullcap’s ability to produce cancer-fighting compounds. The CEPMAS collaboration utilized DNA…
Antibiotic Breakthrough: The Power of a Plant-Derived Toxin
A powerful plant-derived toxin with a unique way of killing harmful bacteria has been identified as one of the most promising new antibiotics in decades….
Scientists Create Tomatoes Genetically Engineered To Boost Vitamin D
Tomatoes that have been gene-edited to produce vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, could be a simple and sustainable innovation to address a worldwide…
Remarkable Regenerative Powers: Scientists Solve the Grass Leaf Conundrum
Grass is cut regularly by our mowers and grazed on by cows and sheep, yet continues to grow back. The secret to its remarkable regenerative…
How Bread Wheat Got Its Gluten: DNA Detective Work Uncovered an Obscure Ancestor of Modern Bread Wheat
Tracing the Impact of a Long-Lost Relative on Modern Bread Wheat Genetic detective work has uncovered an obscure ancestor of modern bread wheat, in a…
Genetics Discovery Reveals How Legumes Give Oxygen to Symbiotic Bacteria in Their Roots
Scientists discover the genetics inside legumes that control the production of an oxygen-carrying molecule, crucial to the plant’s close relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The finding…
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…
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…