The apricot, Prunus armeniaca , shown here is an important fruit species of Southern California. Over 200,000 tons are harvested annually. Photo courtesy of Dave Webb. More research is required, however, before this type of gene transfer becomes useful and practical. Another challenging area of basic biological research involves cell membranes.
All forms of life have cells and all cells have membranes.
Plant scientists are trying to understand the important cell activities that involve membranes. For example, living things need energy to survive, but they need cell membranes to use this energy. Membranes also help move materials into and Out of cells. Plant biologists want to understand how membranes work since living things could not exist without cell membranes. We are learning more and more about plant genes and what they do.