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The ABCE model of floral organ identity.
Researchers recently found a very significant degree of genetic overlap among intergrading floral organs in water lilies and avocado but less overlap in poppy and Arabidopsis, indicating the boundaries between floral organs are not all that sharp in the early angiosperm groups. This is the ABCE model of floral organ identity. Sepals are produced where A function acts alone, petals where A and B functions overlap, stamens where B and C functions combine, and carpels where C function acts alone.
Credit: Andre Chanderbali, University of Florida
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