Skip to Content

Plant evolutionary developmental biology

« Back to Glossary Index

Plant Evolutionary Developmental Biology:

– Study of genetic mechanisms
– Influence on plant diversity
– Role in adaptation
– Understanding of plant evolution
– Impact on agriculture

– Genetic Regulation in Plants:

– Control of gene expression
– Signaling pathways
– Transcription factors
– Epigenetic modifications
– Gene networks

– Evolution of Plant Morphology:

– Diversification of plant forms
– Adaptations to environments
– Structural innovations
– Fossil evidence
– Comparative studies

– Molecular Basis of Plant Evolution:

– Phylogenetic analysis
– Genomic data
– Gene duplication
– Functional divergence
– Evolutionary relationships

– Applications in Agriculture:

– Crop improvement
– Disease resistance
– Stress tolerance
– Yield enhancement
– Sustainable practices

Evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) is the study of developmental programs and patterns from an evolutionary perspective. It seeks to understand the various influences shaping the form and nature of life on the planet. Evo-devo arose as a separate branch of science rather recently. An early sign of this occurred in 1999.

Most of the synthesis in evo-devo has been in the field of animal evolution, one reason being the presence of model systems like Drosophila melanogaster, C. elegans, zebrafish and Xenopus laevis. However, since 1980, a wealth of information on plant morphology, coupled with modern molecular techniques has helped shed light on the conserved and unique developmental patterns in the plant kingdom also.

« Back to Glossary Index