Forever Young: how one molecule can lock plants in a youthful state.(2025)

Biologist Scott Poethig discovered that a single molecule called miR156 acts as a genetic switch controlling when plants transition from their juvenile to adult state, a phenomenon called neoteny. By studying plants worldwide including Arabidopsis, eucalyptus, and acacia trees, Poethig found that high miR156 levels keep plants in their juvenile phase, while decreasing levels trigger the development of adult features. This discovery has implications for conservation and horticulture, and explains why some plant species never mature and retain their youthful characteristics throughout their lives.