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AcronymPlant Stem Cell Network 
  
TitleIntegrated analysis of stem cell function in plant growth and development
  
Duration1 November 2007 - 1 November 2010
  
Project leader James A.H. Murray, University of Cambridge, UK
  

Project partners

Yrjö Helariutta, University of Helsinki, Finland
Thomas Laux, University of Freiburg, Germany
Ben J.G. Scheres, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Aurélio J.C. Campilho, University of Porto, Portugal
   
FundingFinland The Academy of Finland (AKA)
 Germany  The German Research Foundation (DFG)
 The NetherlandsNetherlands Genomics Initiative / Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NGI/NWO)
 PortugalFoundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
 United Kingdom Biotechnological and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
  
  Total granted budget € 2,020,953
  
Abstract 

Stem cells are essential to the growth and development of plants and provide the ultimate origin of all agriculture and forestry. Although some key genes required for the establishment and maintenance of stem cells are identified, we lack information on the networks governing cell differentiation and cell cycle of different stem cell populations, on how these mechanisms determine common and specific behaviours of the different stem cell groups and how they integrate stem cell activity with changing environmental
conditions.
This proposal integrates the work of world-leading labs that perform key research on stem cell populations of the shoot, root and vascular meristems, cell cycle control, growth modelling and image analysis. Europe has a global lead in plant stem cell research and cell division control, and this proposal
will integrate the research of the different labs involved, creating new synergies and substantial added value. New tools and strategies combining genomics, reverse genetics, smart genetic screens, and novel
cell biology will be exploited to address the key issue of how specification of stem cell regions by transcription factors translates to cellular mechanisms for division and differentiation and identify common and distinct regulatory networks in different stem cell populations.