The Aim of This Project
Pluripotent animal stem cells disappear soon after fertilization. In addition, because it is difficult to maintain pluripotent stem cells within the organismal structure of an animal, the mechanisms for maintaining pluripotent stem cells in vivo have remained largely unexplained until now. The mechanisms by which plants form and maintain pluripotency are more highly developed than those of animals, in that plant somatic cells are easy to reprogram, and pluripotent stem cells may be maintained indefinitely. Therefore, it is thought that multi-faceted analysis of plant pluripotent stem cells could deepen understanding of stem cells in plants and animals alike. To this end, this project aims to illuminate the characteristics of plant stem cells through study of the temporal and spatial control of proliferation and genesis of plant stem cells, and the mechanisms underpinning the maintenance of pluripotency and genome homeostasis. This project will create a research platform to give rise to conceptual breakthroughs in stem cell biology, thereby offering an essential understanding of plant growth persistence and the indefinite continuation of life.
