A groundbreaking study led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has reclassified the parasitic plant Pilostyles aethiopica, shedding light on the evolutionary history of flowering plants. The research, published in Nature and conducted by an international team of 279 scientists, utilized 1.8 billion letters of genetic code from over 9,500 species to uncover new insights into the plant kingdom.
The study, which covered almost 8,000 known flowering plant genera, marks a major milestone for plant science and underscores the importance of collaboration in scientific research. With data from the study, scientists will be better equipped to identify new species, refine plant classification, uncover medicinal compounds, and conserve plants in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Perhaps most impressively, the genomic techniques developed for the study allowed for the sequencing of historic herbarium specimens, including extinct plants. This has provided crucial information on the rapid diversification of flowering plants after their origin over 140 million years ago.
The research, which involved partners from 27 countries and a wide diversity of plant species, has made its data openly accessible for further scientific research. This data has immense potential for applications in biodiversity research and drug discovery, in addition to highlighting unusual and rare plant species such as extinct plants, historically significant specimens, and plants with medicinal importance.
Overall, the study represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the history and diversity of flowering plants, showcasing the power of collaboration and the potential for further discoveries in the field of plant science.
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