Flowers are essentially modified leafy shoots. The structures of the flower, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels, are just modified leaves. The modification of a basic leaf to one of these structures is guided and regulated by a set of genes called the "ABC Genes" in the development of flowers.

Expression of an "A" gene alone results in formation of sepals. Expression of both and "A" gene and a "B" gene causes petals to be formed. Expression of a "B" gene and the "C" gene leads to stamens, while the "C" gene alone causes the carpels to form.

For floral structures to be formed at all, the SEP group of genes must be active.

For some of the early scientific literature references on the ABC genes, see Link.

For information about this account, contact: