Synthetic Biology and tools for engineering plant form
Synthetic Biology is an emerging field that employs engineering principles for constructing genetic systems. The approach is based on the use of well characterised and reusable components, and numerical models for the design of biological circuits.
We have constructed a series of tools for controlling gene misexpression and marking specific cells in growing plants. We are building a new generation of genetic circuits that incorporate intercellular communication, and could be used to generate self-organised behaviour at the cellular scale. These could be used to reprogram plant development and morphogenesis.
We have constructed a series of tools for controlling gene misexpression and marking specific cells in growing plants. We are building a new generation of genetic circuits that incorporate intercellular communication, and could be used to generate self-organised behaviour at the cellular scale. These could be used to reprogram plant development and morphogenesis.
Haseloff laboratory
Information about the people and work in the laboratory.
Slide shows, lecture notes, PDFs and resources for teaching in plant development, and iGEM.
Integrated genetic and computation methods for in planta cytometry
Fernán Federici, Lionel Dupuy, Laurent Laplaze, Marcus Heisler & Jim Haseloff
Nature Methods, 9, 483–485 (2012).
The paper describes the coupled use of specifically localized fluorescent gene markers and image processing for automated quantitative analysis of cell growth and genetic activity across living plant tissues. The procedure, which we term in planta cytometry, allows the measurement of cellular properties in intact tissue, while retaining the cellular context for further studies. The routine consists of four steps. (a) Different coloured fluorescent proteins are targeted to nuclei (red) and cell membranes (blue). (b) Automated image handling routines are used to process these images, and identify cell geometries within intact tissues. (c) The addition of other fluorescent markers allows ratiometric image analysis, and (d) automated classification and time-lapse analysis of plant tissues, while retaining cellular context.
Fernán Federici, Lionel Dupuy, Laurent Laplaze, Marcus Heisler & Jim Haseloff
Nature Methods, 9, 483–485 (2012).
The paper describes the coupled use of specifically localized fluorescent gene markers and image processing for automated quantitative analysis of cell growth and genetic activity across living plant tissues. The procedure, which we term in planta cytometry, allows the measurement of cellular properties in intact tissue, while retaining the cellular context for further studies. The routine consists of four steps. (a) Different coloured fluorescent proteins are targeted to nuclei (red) and cell membranes (blue). (b) Automated image handling routines are used to process these images, and identify cell geometries within intact tissues. (c) The addition of other fluorescent markers allows ratiometric image analysis, and (d) automated classification and time-lapse analysis of plant tissues, while retaining cellular context.
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