What is PIN-FORMED (PIN)?

PIN-FORMED (or PIN) is like a helper that helps plants know which way to grow.

Imagine you're playing with a toy train set. The tracks tell the train where to go, right? In plants, PIN acts kind of like those train tracks, it helps special helpers inside the plant cells move from one place to another so the plant can grow in the right direction.

Think of PIN as a little guide that helps messages travel through a plant. These messages tell parts of the plant, like leaves or stems, what to do and where to go. Without PIN, the messages might get lost, and the plant wouldn’t know which way to grow, just like your toy train would go off the tracks if there were no rails!

Plants need to grow toward light, water, and other things they need to live. PIN helps them do that by making sure the messages move smoothly from one cell to another. It’s like having a super-efficient mail system inside every plant, making sure everything gets where it needs to go!