Entries by Irene Ikiriko

Cells are larger than life when ExPOSEd

Cells are as small as life gets, but can be much larger than they appear if given room for expansion. This is possible with expansion microscopy, a technique that enables three dimensional cell imaging by physically expanding cellular components for visualization. Although expansion microscopy has been used in several eukaryotic systems, it is only recently […]

Firmly grounded: Root system stiffness and plant mechanics

Field-based technologies are essential for understanding plant mechanical behavior in field-relevant contexts. This behavior can be elastic, with temporary deformation measured as stiffness, or plastic, with permanent deformation measured as strength. While field-based technologies exist for addressing questions regarding stalk stiffness, stalk strength, and root system strength, root system stiffness has not been fully understood […]