A groundbreaking international collaboration has produced a comprehensive DNA-based tree of life for flowering plants, marking a significant stride in unraveling one of botany’s oldest enigmas—Charles Darwin’s “abominable mystery.”
The study, recently published in the prestigious journal Nature, was conducted by an international team of researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and several other leading institutions and universities around the world.
Darwin referred to the rapid diversification and spread of flowering plants in the fossil record as an “abominable mystery.” For over a century, scientists have sought to understand the evolutionary pathways that led to the vast diversity of flowering plants, known scientifically as angiosperms, that we see today.
Using advanced DNA sequencing technologies and extensive plant sampling, the research team has reconstructed the most detailed phylogenetic tree for flowering plants to date. This DNA tree of life provides new insights into how modern plant species are related and how they have evolved over millions of years.
The creation of this extensive DNA tree involved analyzing genetic material from thousands of plant species. The research sheds light on key evolutionary events and relationships among different plant lineages, offering valuable information for botanists, ecologists, and conservationists.
The collaborative nature of the project underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing complex scientific challenges. Researchers from Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world combined their expertise and resources to achieve this scientific milestone.
The findings have significant implications for various fields, including agriculture, medicine, and environmental conservation. By understanding the genetic relationships between plants, scientists can better identify species with valuable properties, such as resistance to diseases or climate change, and develop strategies to protect endangered species.
This pioneering work not only brings us closer to solving Darwin’s “abominable mystery” but also opens new avenues for research and application in plant sciences. As global biodiversity faces unprecedented threats, such comprehensive studies are essential for informing conservation efforts and ensuring the sustainability of our natural resources.
Reference(s):
Global scientists join hands to rebuild DNA tree of life for plants
cgtn.com
