My research project is coming together fairly nicely. Recently in the lab I am finishing up all the big projects I have been working on all summer.
I have compared and contrasted a couple things that help indicate whether the transcription factor STK01 really does activate the transcription factors SHR and SCR. I have measured the meristem zone, or zone of rapid division in plants that both express and don’t express STK01. Since SHR and SCR are known to control division in this zone it should be smaller in roots that do not express STK01. So far I have found this to be both true and significant. In addition, a fluorescence test that shows how much SHR is expressed in roots that express and do not STK01 was carried out. There was a smaller level of fluorescence in roots that did not express STK01 maintaining that in the presence of STK01, SHR is activated.
However, not everything in the lab always works out perfectly. One of the first experiments I underwent was a root growth assay. This was to determine whether the roots are indeed shorter when STK01 is not expressed. Surprisingly, I found the opposite correlation; the roots were longer when STK01 was not expressed. I attribute this result to either error or another zone in the plant growing longer when STK01 isn’t expressed.
In the last couple lab sessions I plan to put all the pieces of my research together. I plan to do another root growth assay on plates that are easier to track root growth. If this doesn’t show any difference and I have time I may look at differences in sizes of the elongation and differentiation zones. I also plan on finally finishing attaching a GFP to the STK01 gene so that I may see where it is expressed in the plant. After analyzing all the results I am hopeful that my hypothesis will be correct.
