Tracing how a single cell builds an organism, and how stem and progenitor populations maintain, repair and pattern tissue across the lifespan. Also, focuses on unravelling the genetic and cellular mechanisms that dictate how plants adapt and respond to climate change, especially warm temperatures.
This theme follows cells through developmental decisions — from Drosophila border-cell migration and epithelial morphogenesis to the molecular characterisation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human tissue. Groups combine genetics, live imaging and molecular biology to understand how cell fate, migration and tissue patterning are controlled during development and regeneration.
The research focuses on unraveling the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that enable plants to perceive, respond, and adapt to climate change, with a particular emphasis on elevated temperatures. As global temperatures continue to rise, plants face significant challenges that affect their growth, development, productivity, and survival. Understanding how plants sense temperature fluctuations and translate these environmental cues into physiological and developmental responses is critical for ensuring agricultural sustainability and food security.
