Decoding Nature's Secrets: The 125 Million-Year Evolutionary Puzzle of Crop Genetics

Decoding Nature's Secrets: The 125 Million-Year Evolutionary Puzzle of Crop Genetics

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identified key differences in gene regulation between tomato and Arabidopsis thaliana plants, which could explain challenges in crop engineering. This breakthrough, revealing how mutations affect plant growth and development, highlights the importance of understanding genetic regulation to enhance predictability and efficiency in agriculture.

Mutations in the CLV3 gene can dramatically increase fruit size, as seen in tomatoes (top row) and Arabidopsis thaliana (bottom row). Credit: Lippman lab/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory