Content overview: “3D Rice Atlas Maps Gene Activity Across 61 Stages, From Seed to Seed”. Rice feeds more than half the world, yet the journey from a single cell to a mature plant remains surprisingly mysterious. A new study published in Nature Genetics changes that with a three-dimensional spatiotemporal atlas of gene expression covering 10 organs and 61 developmental stages—from seed to seed. Led by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and BGI-Research, the work integrates single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to pinpoint where and when genes switch on as rice grows.
Key organs mapped include the root, shoot apical meristem, leaf, and panicle, revealing how cell fate decisions unfold in real time. Why it matters: the atlas provides a foundational resource for crop scientists aiming to boost yield, improve stress tolerance, and adapt rice to climate change. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.