Core Viewpoint - The research conducted by Wang Jiawei's team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made significant advancements in plant developmental biology by creating a unified cell atlas of vascular plants, which enhances gene discovery and addresses the challenges of gene redundancy in forward genetics [5][6]. Group 1: Research Breakthroughs - The study published in the journal Cell presents the world's first integrated cell atlas of vascular plants, identifying foundational genes for various cell types, thus overcoming bottlenecks in efficient gene discovery [5][6]. - The research team constructed a shoot apex single-cell atlas across six representative species, revealing the foundational gene framework for key plant cell types, significantly improving gene function exploration efficiency [6][7]. Group 2: Methodological Innovations - The team developed an automated cell classification algorithm tool for vascular plant cell types, accelerating the analysis and application of single-cell data [7][10]. - By comparing cross-species single-cell transcriptome maps, the team identified core gene modules for conserved cell types, enabling precise candidate gene screening and avoiding redundancy from random mutations [6][10]. Group 3: New Discoveries - The research identified novel regulatory factors and cell types, including previously unrecognized X8 domain proteins and JULGI-LIKE proteins, which are regulatory factors for phloem development [6][10]. - The study also recognized a new cell type, companion cell-like cells, in ferns and gymnosperms, expanding the understanding of plant cell diversity [6].