In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers have discovered a new way in which plants can evolve: swapping genetic “modules” from one species to another. This process, known as “module swapping,” could be a major driver of plant evolution and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. The researchers studied over 600 plant species and found that module swapping was common in all of them. The modules contain genes that regulate important functions like growth, flowering, and stress response, and can be exchanged between species without any detrimental effects. This new understanding of plant evolution could help us better predict how crops might evolve in response to climate change.

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source: Phys.org