In Tennessee, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a first-ever method of detecting ribonucleic acid, or RNA, inside plant cells using a technique that results in a visible fluorescent signal. The technology can help researchers detect and track changes in RNA and gene expression in real time, providing a powerful tool for the development of hardier bioenergy and food crops and for detection of unwanted plant modifications, pathogens and pests.
RNA is a signaling molecule inside cells that is used to read the deoxyribonucleic, or DNA, code and convert it into functional parts such as proteins that are essential for plant growth and stress response. The ORNL-developed biosensor continuously monitors RNA levels in live plants, replacing a traditional destructive, time-consuming method used by scientists of collecting, processing and analyzing tissue.
Tags: ORNL, RNA, Tennessee
Category: Research
