How does a developing plant cell in its embryo state now what kind of cell it should become?

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Three Vidi-grants for Wageningen scientists

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May 19, 2014

Wageningen scientists Marleen Kamperman, Bert de Rybel and Joop Vermeer (alumnus of Wageningen University as well) will each receive a Vidi grant, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research announced on Monday. Vidi grants are awarded to researchers who have successfully carried out several years of research after they completed their PhD. The grant amounts to a maximum of 800,000 euros. It will allow them to conduct research into the topic they submitted.

The topics for which the researchers received the grants are:

Dr. Marleen Kamperman, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science: Sticky when wet

Bristle worms live in water and build cylindrical houses by sticking together pieces of shell and stone. The researchers are going to replicate the mechanism that bristle worms use to shed glue in water, and are going to develop a strong, tough glue that can for example be used as biomedical glue.

Dr. ir. Bert De Rybel, Laboratory of Biochemistry: Deel en heers

Plant cells need to divide in a very specific manner during the early stages of their development to give tissue the correct three-dimensional shape. The researchers will investigate how plants check which cells should divide and how the direction of this division is determined.

Dr. ir. Joop Vermeer– Laboratory of Cell Biology and Laboratory of Moleculair Biology: Praten met de buren

Plant cells are under high pressure and are connected to the cell wall. The researchers are going to analyse how plant cells communicate during the initiation and development of new organs.

*Joop Vermeer does not currently work at Wageningen UR, but will coduct his research project at Wagenigen UR.