Climate change challenges, plant science solutions

The Plant Cell · 2022 · 189 citations

• Biology
• Environmental resource management
• Natural resource economics

Climate change is a defining challenge of the 21st century, and this decade is a critical time for action to mitigate the worst effects on human populations and ecosystems. Plant science can play an important role in developing crops with enhanced resilience to harsh conditions (e.g. heat, drought, salt stress, flooding, disease outbreaks) and engineering efficient carbon-capturing and carbon-sequestering plants. Here, we present examples of research being conducted in these areas and discuss challenges and open questions as a call to action for the plant science community.

Darwinian genomics and diversity in the tree of life

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2022 · 33 citations

• Computer Science
• Biology
• Evolutionary biology

Genomics encompasses the entire tree of life, both extinct and extant, and the evolutionary processes that shape this diversity. To date, genomic research has focused on humans, a small number of agricultural species, and established laboratory models. Fewer than 18,000 of approximately 2,000,000 eukaryotic species ( < 1%) have a representative genome sequence in GenBank, and only a fraction of these have ancillary information on genome structure, genetic variation, gene expression, epigenetic modifications, and population diversity. This imbalance reflects a perception that human studies are paramount in disease research. Yet understanding how genomes work, and how genetic variation shapes phenotypes, requires a broad view that embraces the vast diversity of life. We have the technology to collect massive and exquisitely detailed datasets about the world, but expertise is siloed into distinct fields. A new approach, integrating comparative genomics with cell and evolutionary biology, ecology, archaeology, anthropology, and conservation biology, is essential for understanding and protecting ourselves and our world. Here, we describe potential for scientific discovery when comparative genomics works in close collaboration with a broad range of fields as well as the technical, scientific, and social constraints that must be addressed.

A GRF–GIF chimeric protein improves the regeneration efficiency of transgenic plants

Nature Biotechnology · 2020 · 606 citations

• Biology
• Botany
• Cell biology

A Pan-plant Protein Complex Map Reveals Deep Conservation and Novel Assemblies

Cell · 2020 · 240 citations

• Biology
• Computational biology
• Genetics