Science Snapshot: Go Forth and Multiply

An honorable mention in the 2022 Nikon Small World in Motion competition shows thale cress sperm being released into the ovule.

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pollen tube releasing sperm into ovule

Nicholas Desnoyer, University of Zurich, Courtesy of Nikon Small World

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Even though it didn’t take home a prize, this video by Nicholas Desnoyer of the University of Zurich earned an honorable mention in the 2022 Nikon Small World in Motion competition. It looks like a wild firework show, but it’s actually an up-close view of thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) reproduction. Synergid cells (pink) help guide pollen tubes to the flower’s ovules so sperm can be released.

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Meet the Author

  • Lisa Winter

    Lisa Winter became social media editor for The Scientist in 2017. In addition to her duties on social media platforms, she also pens obituaries for the website. She graduated from Arizona State University, where she studied genetics, cell, and developmental biology.
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