The Sainsbury Laboratory Symposium 2026, Shaping Life: Mechanisms of Morphogenesis, brought together researchers exploring the cellular, genetic and mechanical processes that shape plant form. This preList highlights preprints that were discussed or mentioned at the meeting. If you notice any missing preprints, please contact us at preLights@biologists.com

Spatiotemporal transcriptomics across conifer reproductive and vegetative shoots reveals candidate developmental regulators and evolutionarily conserved tissue patterning genes in seed plants.

This study shows that young tree leaves are better able than older leaves to adjust to changing light conditions. By combining greenhouse, outdoor, and genetic studies, it reveals a developmental cont...

Abstract. The role of RNA splicing as a modulator of the molecular responses to stress is well described. In contrast, its importance in the acclimation of

Fine roots, historically defined as roots that are ≤ 2 mm in diameter, are responsible for acquiring essential soil resources for plant growth and developm

Kelp are major players in CO2 removal by photosynthesis. Here, the authors obtained the structure of a key kelp photosynthetic complex with its light-harvesting antenna. Comparisons with other photosy...

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Written by Tanya Berardini, Chief Science Officer at Phoenix Bioinformatics [...]

Chloroplast-stealing ciliates evolve, increasing reliance on their prey for all aspects of metabolism, including photosynthesis.

How genes determine the development of chiral structures is a fascinating question. The reciprocal placement of female and male organs on opposite sides of mirror-image flowers promotes efficient cros...

LA JOLLA, California—August 3, 2026—Blood Falls has long been one of Antarctica’s strangest landmarks: a red-stained outflow that spills from...

Biosynthesis of ~3,000 monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs), including the anticancer drug vinblastine, involves the highly unstable intermediate strictosidine aglycone. Its formation by strictosidin...

The European champions conceded just one goal in the tournament and Spain’s success is a victory for a system

Cell states alone rarely resolve woody developmental continua. To recover developmental continuity, Wei et al. integrated single-cell, single-nucleus, and spatial transcriptomics in poplar xylem. Their study highlights a broader principle for forestry: cell-resolved atlases become explanatory when interpreted in an anatomical context and linked to developmental continuity and experimental validation.

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Cryo-EM structures unexpectedly show that there are two binding sites for RAB5, with the VPS15 site being the most evolutionarily ancient site, which is essential for endocytic sorting.

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