表观遗传学

由Helariutta教授兼研究总监为首的国际研究小组发现了能够控制植物根系中的木材细胞发展的遗传过程。木质部是维管组织，它能够从根部向上输送水分和养分，同时有助于茎中的木质元素的生成。这项研究报告刊登在Current Biology的杂志上，提出利用植物工程来生产更多的木材的方法。

Wood Cells

Wood Cells

An international research group headed by Professor and Research Director Yrjö Helariutta has discovered the genetic process that controls the development of wood cells in the roots of plants. Xylem (wood cells) is the vascular tissue that transports water and nutrients upward from the root, also contributing to the formation of the woody element in the stem. The work, published in the online version of the journalCurrent Biology, presents a potential method for engineering plants to produce more wood.

All multicellular organisms start life as a single cell. This cell begins to divide, and the new cells need to take on new identities. Understanding the genetic messages that control these processes helps researchers to direct the development of plants. Plant cells can be engineered to produce more or less of a certain cell or tissue, for example. More durable and faster-growing plants are particularly important in this era of climate change and energy considerations. The goal is to direct the development of plants for practical purposes.

The research carried out by Professor Helariutta's team will help to direct future crop and forestry improvements. According to researcher Anthony Bishopp, the results enhance our understanding of how plants develop.