Bart J. Janssen studies the molecular control of plant development. A 2008 study led by Janssen followed gene expression as apple fruits developed, linking molecular measurements to recognizable changes in anatomy and growth.
The investigators collected samples at eight developmental times and used a DNA microarray representing approximately 13000 genes. Four broad temporal patterns distinguished flower stages, early cell division, growth with starch accumulation, and ripening. Selected measurements were checked using Quantitative PCR.[ref]
An apple is a pome, with both an ovary-derived core and surrounding hypanthium tissue. Comparing stages therefore asks how growth of a composite fruit is coordinated. A gene whose expression peaks during cell division becomes a candidate for further investigation; matching the timing does not alone demonstrate that the gene causes that developmental change.[ref]
Global gene expression analysis of apple fruit development from the floral bud to ripe fruit by Bart J. Janssen and others. Background, core/cortex distinction; Results, coordinated expression patterns
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