How Plant Stem Cells Guard Against Genetic Damage

Genetics in the News:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091116165633.htm

- New discoveries have shown that plants can protect themselves from genetic damage that is caused by environmental pressures.

- A mechanism in the growing tips of plants can send a message to the cells to “self-destruct” if it senses genetic damage.

- It does this so that it does not pass down its defective DNA.

- Since the plants are able to do this, defects are not passed down through the generations as easily.

- With this knowledge, scientist are trying to investigate more so that they can help plants in the upcoming years as the climate continues to change, since climate change is a big cause of genetic damage.

Reflection:

I chose this article because I really do not know anything about stem cells, yet I hear about them all the time in the news. I found it really interesting that plants were able to stop the defect from being passed down through the generations. This would obviously be a beneficial thing for them to be able to do, because if a defect is passed down, it can stay in the population for decades. In conclusion, it was interesting to learn a little about stem cells and I would enjoy learning more about them in the future.