Keystone species shape the structure of an entire ecosystem, but can a gene determine structure of the whole ecosystem?  A recent study indicates yes, some genes can, and such genes are called keystone genes. Barbour et al. set up a small ecosystem containing two herbivore aphids, one predator of these…

Review: Fire-released seed dormancy - a global synthesis In 1991, Jon E. Keely wrote the first review about the role of fire as a dormancy-breaking cue in California's Mediterranean ecosystems. In this review, almost 30 years after Keely's work, Pausas and Lamont provide us with an updated and worldwide…

Sören Strauss co-first author of "The annotation and analysis of complex 3D plant organs using 3DCoordX" Current Position: Research Scientist (Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany) Education: Diploma in Computer Science (University of Technology Ilmenau, Germany);…

Athul Vijayan, co-first author of  "The annotation and analysis of complex 3D plant organs using 3DCoordX" Current Position: Postdoc in the group of Prof. Miltos Tsiantis, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany. Education: BS-MS in biological science from Indian Institute…

Ronald Myers, Jr., first author of "Extracellular ATP plays an important role in systemic wound response activation" Current Position: Graduate Research Assistant/Ph.D. Student in the Division of Plant Science and Technology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri Education: BSc in Biochemistry…

Nan, Teng et al. uncover bHLH-regulated genetic networks that sequentially control maize anther development.  By Chong Teng (DDPSC, MO), Guo-Ling Nan (Stanford University, CA), Blake Meyers (DDPSC and University of Missouri–Columbia, MO), and Virginia Walbot (Stanford University, CA)  Background:…

Yang Yang, first author of "A mitochondrial RNA processing protein mediates plant immunity to a broad spectrum of pathogens by modulating the mitochondrial oxidative burst" Current Position: PhD student, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China. Supervisor: Prof. Weixing…

Guillermo Baena, first author of "SNARE SYP132 mediates divergent trafficking of H+-ATPase AHA1 and antimicrobial PR1 during bacterial pathogenesis" Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Plant Science Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow. Education:…