- Kelly Finan
- Synthetic Ion Channel Makes Plants Grow Fast
- Vector Art
OPEN AND SHUT: To test whether speed of stomata opening and closing can increase productivity and water use efficiency, researchers added the synthetic light-activated BLINK1 ion channel to guard cells in Arabidopsis (1). The BLINK1 channel allowed potassium ions to move into a cell within two minutes of activation by blue light (2). The increase in ions inside the cell caused the guard cells to take on water and swell in size, opening the stomata to allow entry of carbon dioxide (3). Within 8 to 10 minutes of being in darkness, the BLINK1 channel’s activity decreased and the guard cells began to shrink, closing the stomata and preventing water from leaving the cell (4).
- Collections: Botanical Art
About the Artist: Kelly Finan x
"My business focuses on using stable and radiogenic geochemistry, not something common to many of the people that I work with. Kelly's ability to construct clear, well-designed and highly aesthetic images has helped me convey complex geochemical reactions and geochemical patterns with ease."
-Dr. Ryan Mathur, geologist
"Kelly was excellent to work with; she is organized, quick to respond to email communications, produces work that transmits information (crucial for scientific illustration) and work that is often beautiful."
-Dr. Paula Martin, water scientist
"[I] have been more than pleased with the quality of Kelly's work, and with her ability to capture the essence of new creatures in a new landscape."
-Dr. Bill McLarney, ichthyologist
Visit my website for more illustrations, graphic design, and information about me!
www.kellyfinan.com