The study looked at genes in cucumber and petunia that control the development of reproductive organs in plants. They found that different versions of these genes can cause different changes in flower structures when inserted into other plants. In cucumber, one gene caused petals to turn into stamens and sepals into carpelloid structures, while another gene only partially transformed petals. In petunia, one gene induced changes in sepals and petals, while another gene did not have the same effect. This shows that these genes can have different effects on flower development in different plants.