An Arabidopsis plant with downy mildew disease, caused by a fungus-like pathogen.
(Above Link To Article)
Plants, like many other organisms, have circadian clocks that help them anticipate various environmental and biological events that occur at precise times of the day. Researchers report that genes in certain plants fend off infections with the help of their circadian rhythms. Twenty-two genes in the plant Arabidopsis are connected to the plant’s ability to resist infection due to pathogens. This is the first time researchers have been able to make a functional connection between the circadian clock and pathogen resistance.
I believe this is an important discovery that can be quite beneficial to our understanding of how genes are expressed in relation to an organism and its surrounding environment. This single plant can enhance our knowledge that can then be applied further, for instance, in human situations.
Plants are sessile organisms, and thus they are intimately associated with their environment. This ability to synchronize with daily changes in temperature and light is of great advantage to plants. For example, the circadian clock makes an essential contribution to photosynthesis, with the outcome that the clock is believed to increase plant growth and survival.
ReplyDeleteCircadian rhythms are important in determining the sleeping and feeding patterns of all animals, including human beings. There are clear patterns of brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration and other biological activities linked to this daily cycle.
There are circadian rhythms in both plants and animals, although they are important to both plants and animals for different reasons. ( For more information see http://www.crystalinks.com/biologicalclock.html)