The diversity in plants’ adaptations and evolution is vast. One driver of this variety gaining traction in evolutionary studies is gene co-option, or “tinkering”, the ability to repurpose existing genes for new purposes. In a recent review by Di Stilio and Garcia, the authors bring together recent evidence from across land plants to show how […]
We are used to thinking of plants as slow-moving organisms, so the few exceptions that exist are not only fascinating curiosities but also scientific mysteries waiting to be resolved. The Venus flytrap is one of the most studied fast-moving plants. Until now, the rapid closure of its trap was thought to be driven primarily by […]
Self-pollination in many crop cultivars has been extremely useful for humans. It simplifies propagation, stabilizes traits, and supports reliable fruit production. But for many plant species, selfing comes with biological costs: reduced genetic diversity, inbreeding depression, and potential declines in long‑term resilience. In a new study of strawberries by Lee et al., the authors explore […]