Computational tools for quantitative analysis of cell growth patterns and morphogenesis in actively developing plant stem cell niches.

Pattern formation in developmental fields involves precise spatial arrangement of different cell types in a dynamic landscape wherein cells exhibit a variety of behaviors, such as cell division, cell expansion, and cell migration [Reddy (Curr Opin Plant Biol 11:88-931, 2008) and Meyerowitz (Cell 88:299-3082, 2007)]. The information is exchanged between multiple cell layers through cell-cell communication processes to regulate gene expression and cell behaviors in specifying distinct cell types. Therefore, a quantitative and dynamic understanding of the spatial and temporal organization of gene expression and cell behavioral patterns within multilayered and actively growing developmental fields is crucial to model the process of development.

Towards a functional understanding of cell growth dynamics in shoot meristem stem-cell niche.

Shoot apical meristems (SAMs) harbor a set of stem-cells which supply cells for the development of all above-ground structures. A precise spatio-temporal control of growth patterns in stem-cells and the differentiating progeny is critical to maintain a stable set of stem-cells. In recent years, an array of approaches including molecular genetics, transient perturbations, live-imaging, image processing and mathematical modeling have been employed to study the cellular dynamics.