📷 In Brief:
Hidden gradients before form: A spatial transcriptomic atlas of wheat spike patterning
📷 Highlighted research article:
Spatial transcriptomics reveals expression gradients in developing wheat inflorescences at cellular resolution
doi.org/10.1093/plce...
🌾Although basal spikelets are initiated first, they develop more slowly and often remain rudimentary. By profiling ~200 genes across >50,000 cells and four stages, this study uncovers early apical–basal transcriptional gradients that prepattern spikelet fate. doi.org/10.1093/plce...
New In Brief out in The Plant Cell, co-authored with Dr. Travis Lee! We highlight recent work by Katie Long, Ashleigh Lister, and colleagues, who adapt MERFISH–based spatial transcriptomics to the anatomically complex wheat spike. 🧵👇
🌱 Highlighted research article:
Gene expression divergence following gene and genome duplications in spatially resolved plant transcriptomes
Fabricio Almeida-Silva & Yves Van de Peer
The Plant Cell, Volume 37, Issue 10, October 2025, koaf243 doi.org/10.1093/plce...
🧬 In Brief:
Duplicated genes find their space: Spatial transcriptomics illuminates evolutionary fates
The Plant Cell, koaf265. doi.org/10.1093/plce...
✨ Excited to share our new In Brief article in The Plant Cell! Co-authored with Fabian and Bruno, our piece highlights work by Almeida-Silva and Van de Peer that uses spatial transcriptomics to uncover how gene and genome duplications shape plant evolution.
Great day at the London Single Cell & Spatial Discovery Symposium! 🌟
So many inspiring talks and success stories in spatial & single-cell biology — and wonderful discussions with the community. Huge thanks to the 10x team for organizing such a great event! 🙌
🌟 Excited to be speaking at the London Single Cell & Spatial Discovery Symposium this Thursday.
🧬 Looking forward to connecting with the single cell and spatial biology community and learning from the amazing 10x-perts.
Why I recommend it:
➡️ Joli reframes academic writing as a frequent, low-stress practice, rather than something tied only to deadlines.
➡️ It reminded me that writing isn’t just about publishing—it’s also about thinking clearly, clarifying ideas, and enjoying the process.
Weekend Reading Recommendation #1 📚
✨ Write No Matter What by Joli Jensen
Key takeaway: Writing can be frequent, low-stress, and even enjoyable—a daily practice, not just a deadline scramble.
👉 I’d love to hear: What’s a book that’s shaped how you work, learn, or create?
New OA Article: "A single-cell rice atlas integrates multi-species data to reveal cis-regulatory evolution" rdcu.be/eHce3
Chromatin accessibility in rice & related grasses: how regulatory DNA elements evolve across cell types & species; identifying potential silencers.
On my site, you’ll find:
🔬 My research on plant organogenesis
📄 Publications
🎤 Updates on conferences, talks & teaching
I hope it grows into a platform not just to showcase my work, but also to engage with the scientific community & beyond. 🌍
✨ “Discovery becomes impact when science is shared and communicated to inspire change.”
As scientists, we dedicate years to building knowledge. Having a hub helps communicate that work more widely — connecting with collaborators, students, & anyone curious about plant biology.
🌱 Excited to share my new personal academic website! 👉 minyaojhu.com
Inspired by the Nature Index article "Build-your-own website for scientists", I wanted to create a hub to present my research & foster collaborations.
Excited to share our latest In Brief in The Plant Cell! 🌱✨
With Dr. Chai Hao Chiu, we highlight Horta Araújo et al.’s discovery of AeRLCK2, a Receptor-Like Cytoplasmic Kinase that drives Nod-independent nodule formation in Aeschynomene evenia. doi.org/10.1093/plce...
I'll also be sharing a poster on the same topic: 🧬 Poster #400-56
Come chat if you're interested in spatial transcriptomics, gene regulation, and legume symbiosis! See you here! 🌿
#PlantBio2025 #ASPB
Excited to be speaking at #PlantBio2025! 🌱
🧬 Session: Transcription to Beyond!
📅 Tue, July 29 | 🕔 5:10 PM | 📍Room 203CD
🎙️ High-Resolution Time-Resolved Spatial Transcriptomes and Gene Regulatory Atlas of Medicago Lateral Root and Nodule Organogenesis
We highlight how nodules & lateral roots share regulatory pathways but evolved distinct organ identities. 🌿We also showcase emerging tools — single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and advanced imaging — that are providing fresh insights into the regulation of nodulation. 🧬
New review out in Current Opinion in Plant Biology!
“From roots to nodules: regulation of organogenesis in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis”
Many thanks to Dr. Katharina Schiessl for inviting me to work on this! 🌟
We explore how plants adapt their developmental programs to form specialized organs — nodules, galls, haustoria — enabling mutualistic or parasitic symbioses.
Despite their differences, these organs share gene regulatory pathways, demonstrating the remarkable plasticity of plant development.
🚀 Excited to share our new review published in Trends in Plant Science, coauthored with Dr. Victor Hugo Moura de Souza & Dr. Katharina Schiessl!
🌱 From hosts to parasites: Hormones driving symbiosis-induced de novo organogenesis
👉 authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
Wang et al. reveal how plant glutamyl-tRNA reductases (GluTRs) drive heme biosynthesis in nodules, supplying both the plant and rhizobia, and coordinating metabolism to support symbiosis. 🌱
🚀 I’m excited to share our latest In Brief article, co-authored with Dr. Raphael Ledermann, now published in The Plant Cell!
Division of Labour in the Nodule: Plant GluTRs Fuel Heme Biosynthesis for Symbiosis
doi.org/10.1093/plce...
🌿 Honoured to speak at the Paris Single Cell & Spatial Core Excellence Summit, sharing our work using Xenium in situ on plant tissues! 🌱
Grateful for the fantastic feedback from the vibrant single cell & spatial genomics community. Huge thanks to the team at 10x Genomics.🌟
