Wednesday, 08 October 2025 06:27:14
Grahame Jackson posted a new submission ‘Plants are incredibly sensitive – what we learned about their response system could help protect humans’
Submission
Plants are incredibly sensitive – what we learned about their response system could help protect humans
The conversation
At first glance, plants may seem passive – but beneath their stillness lies a world of complexity and constant activity. Plants are highly sensitive to their surroundings, continuously monitoring environmental signals to adapt and survive. Think of them as nature’s nosy neighbours, always alert to what’s happening around them.
From subtle shifts in light and temperature to the presence of pollinators, microbes, or changes in soil salinity, plants can detect a range of cues. In response, they can alter growth direction, delay flowering or produce protective chemicals.
My colleagues and I have created a cell-by-cell map of how plants respond to signals from the soil. The map offers insight into plant behaviour in an unprecedented level of detail. It could change our understanding of how living things adapt to their environment and help plants survive climate change.
The human genome contains roughly 20,000 genes. But, like other animals and plants, not all these genes are active at the same time or in every cell. It’s called selective gene expression. For years, scientists believed that selective gene expression was the main explanation for why our skin cells differ from muscle cells even though they carry the same genetic blueprint. Each cell type activates a unique set of genes, producing proteins that define its structure and function.
Global Plant Protection News 
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