La planta model Arabidopsis thaliana

Authors

  • Elena Monte

Abstract

The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. During the past 30 years, the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana has been the model organism of choice for thousands of biologists. Arabidopsis is self-fertilizing, has a small genome, has a short life cycle, and the small size and simple growth requirements make it easy to grow in laboratory conditions. The extensive acceptance of Arabidopsis as a model plant is based on the genomic methods and resources that are available for it, which have greatly stimulated plant biological research and have facilitated the investigation of a range of biological questions. Here, we review some of the key events in the history of Arabidopsis as a model plant and the growth of the Arabidopsis research community. And we explain how Arabidopsis has facilitated the research in a field of particular importance in plants: the perception and response to their light environment.

Published

2012-01-17