In contrast to mammals, in which maternal RNA and proteins drive early embryogenesis, the contribution of maternal and paternal genomes to early plant embryogenesis varies by gene, a new study has shown. Del Toro-De León et al. find that paternal genes are not activated in plant zygotes in a discrete step but rather show gradual activation. This latter finding reconciles conflicting reports regarding paternal gene contributions in plants.
References
Del Toro-De León, G., García-Aguilar, M. & Gillmor, C. S. Non-equivalent contributions of maternal and paternal genomes to early plant embryogenesis. Nature http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature13620 (2014)
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Lokody, I. Daddy issues — paternal contribution in plants. Nat Rev Genet 15, 704 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3839
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3839