Publications by authors named "Franziska Saul"
Background: Mycoplasmas are an important cause of respiratory diseases in tortoises. In snakes, evidence of mycoplasma infections has been found almost exclusively in pythons. To better understand the occurrence of these bacteria in other snake species, samples submitted for routine testing for respiratory pathogens were also tested for mycoplasma by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
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- Scientists studied the Asian pitcher plant, Nepenthes gracilis, to find out how it developed unique features like its sex traits and bug-eating leaves after its genes duplicated.
- They discovered that the plant has double the normal number of chromosomes and found areas in its genes that help with flower and pollen development, which are linked to its male traits.
- The research showed that changes in its gene copies helped the plant create new functions and special traits, contributing to its ability to thrive and become unique in nature.
Most plants grow and develop by taking up nutrients from the soil while continuously under threat from foraging animals. Carnivorous plants have turned the tables by capturing and consuming nutrient-rich animal prey, enabling them to thrive in nutrient-poor soil. To better understand the evolution of botanical carnivory, we compared the draft genome of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) with that of its aquatic sister, the waterwheel plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa, and the sundew Drosera spatulata.
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