Maura Zimmermann

@maurazimmermann.bsky.social

Postdoc in the Roeder lab at Cornell. Alumni from UMassAmherst from the Baskin lab. Interested in plant morphogenesis. She/her

Fascinating. Identification of a developmental hourglass in brown seaweed (kelp) in mid embryogenesis, like plants & animals Suggests evolutionary acquisition of multicelluarity relies on ancient genes that become entrenched early in multicellular lineages www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A transcriptomic hourglass in brown algae - Nature

Similar to other eukaryotes, brown algae exhibit transcriptome conservation that is consistent with the molecular hourglass model during differentiation in embryonic development.

nature.com

The swamp-dwelling ‘bald cypress’ is today’s #SpookyScience feature (and Louisiana’s state 🌲)! The bald cypress is a pneumatophore, with roots growing just below the surface then protruding ⬆️ (believed to help the tree breathe). The tree’s “knees” don’t always look this spooky, but what a shot 📸 🧪

A photo of the bottom of a bald cypress and its roots, looking like gnarled hands/fingers or souls in the river styx.

Photo credit: Mike DelGaudio https://www.flickr.com/photos/mydailycommute/19354158