The Fourth FASEB Conference on Plant Gene Expression will bring together cell biology and molecular genetic approaches to the study of plant development. The meeting topic was chosen in light of recent success in gene cloning combined with technological advances that permit analysis of developmental events at a finer level than previously permitted. The session cover topics ranging from gametogenesis through reproduction. Attempts to balance the use of genetics and cell biology will be focused on in each session, including a consideration of the factors that influence cell fate, such as neighboring cells, the environment, the cytoskeleton, and meristem prepatterning. The meeting should provide an atmosphere for the exchange of data and ideas gained from different experimental systems. The FASEB meeting will focus on development, rather than attempting to cover all areas of plant biology. By combining genetic, molecular and cell biology approaches to questions of development, scientists should come together who may not normally attend the same meetings.
