On the macroscopic scale, galaxies of stars inspired curiosity for eons, and a similar inspiration has also been drawn from the microscopic scale of the cell. The very same chemistry from which stars ..
On the macroscopic scale, galaxies of stars inspired curiosity for eons, and a similar inspiration has also been drawn from the microscopic scale of the cell. The very same chemistry from which stars are born drives complex processes within the cell, which in turn give rise to life. My research focuses on elucidating molecular pathways regulating cell division and cell shape in plant cells. As opposed to stars and telescopes used by astronomers, I use fluorescently labelled proteins and microscopy to observe the dynamics of the cellular universe. These fluorescent proteins reveal the interconnectedness between the abiotic macroscopic and the lively dynamics of the microscopic. Cells of Nicotiana benthamiana are used to reveal intricate interactions of proteins in cells, opening a microscopic window in which we too can become astronomers of molecular stars.
