Researchers visualize fertilized plant cell division for the first time

LEXINGTON, KY - It’s common knowledge that plants grow up from the ground, supported by a root system, but until now scientists were unable to understand how that process starts during fertilization at a cellular level. An international team of scientists that includes a University of Kentucky researcher has visualized how the fertilized egg cell divides unequally after fertilization.

From this unequal cell division, one cell works toward developing the top part of the plant including stem, leaves and flowers while the other works on root structure.

See the live-cell image here.

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