Dr. Jessica Lucas 
Plant Biologist,
Assistant Professor, Santa Clara University 

One of the main differences between plant and animal cells lies with tiny structures within cells that are made of protein and called microtubules. As Dr. Lucas explains, one of the major differences between plant and animal cells is that the microtubules are organized in completely different ways. She notes their importance to both growth (an organism getting bigger, increasing in cell number and size) and morphogenesis (the creation of an organism’s shape, including the organization and the shaping of cells). After explaining what microtubules are and illustrating their arrays with colorful slides, Dr. Lucas talks about some of the larger questions driving her research, such as, “How do microtubules control morphogenesis?” 

Recorded: April 4, 2014