by Lauren Favara
Researchers at NYU and Utrecht University have come to learn that ordinary cells can replace missing organs in plants which was originally only though for stem cells. Since it is researched that stem cells are the reasons plants and trees can regenerate and expand like branches or stems, it was quite a shock when researchers found that ordinary cells produce the same result. By cutting off the tip of the root, researchers could then observe the return of the cells and where they replaced themselves.
In a process known as “reprogramming,” several expressed genes could be changed into stem-cells by manipulating non-stem cells. During this study, researchers look to see if these organs in plants could regenerate on their own without any “genetic manipulation.” Assistant Professor of biology at NYU, Kenneth Birnbaum said, “Here is a case of an organism that can perform this kind of reprogramming naturally. This may be one reason why plants are so adept at regenerating their body parts.”
