Seeing Red: A UC San Diego Invention is Transforming the Way Scientists Track Genes

Revolutionary ’RUBY’ — a cost-effective UC San Diego-created innovation designed to track gene activity — is proving valuable across a range of fields

Plants with red features produced by the RUBY genetic expression tool. — Professor Yunde Zhao dissects a RUBY flower of a thale cress (right, Arabidopsis thaliana), a small plant in the mustard family used as a model for genetic manipulations. A benthi plant (left, Nicotiana benthamiana), a relative of tobacco and another model used for testing gene activity, features RUBY spots on its leaves. Credit: Erik Jepsen/University Communications

Professor Yunde Zhao dissects a RUBY flower of a thale cress (right, Arabidopsis thaliana), a small plant in the mustard family used as a model for genetic manipulations. A benthi plant (left, Nicotiana benthamiana), a relative of tobacco and another model used for testing gene activity, features RUBY spots on its leaves. Credit: Erik Jepsen/University Communications

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Arabidopsis rose bouquet. Credit: Nick Desnoyer, Grossniklaus Lab, University of Zürich.

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Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Professor Yunde Zhao. Credit: Erik Jepsen/University Communications

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A Chinese cabbage plant features RUBY’s red hues. Credit: Shubin Wang, Institute for Vegetable Research, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences

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Avocado plant leaves with RUBY markers. Credit: Rafael Urrea López, CITAEJ, Jalisco, Mexico

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A peanut plant genetically infused with the RUBY gene reporter. Credit: Dr. Vijay Sheri, Texas Tech University

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The leaf of a cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plant with red RUBY points. Credit: Rafael Urrea López, CITAEJ, Jalisco, Mexico

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Story by:

Mario Aguilera - maguilera@ucsd.edu

September 30, 2025

Story by:

Mario Aguilera - maguilera@ucsd.edu

Seeing Red: A UC San Diego Invention is Transforming the Way Scientists Track Genes

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