Genetic Flower Power
Evolution is constantly happening all around us. We see many examples of this every day such as the breeding of animals (such as dogs or horses), the evolution of certain diseases, or common genetics and biology experiments; and now in the U.K. a very strange form of evolution has been encountered.
The common groundsel is a flowering weed found in Europe which has recently (in the last 300 years) undergone a rather unique form of evolution. It has "borrowed" genes from another plant, introduced 300 years ago, and has prospered in doing so. They have changed their common compact flower, to one which has an expansive yellow petaled blossom.
This is interesting for a few reasons. First, this is an example of where gene flow between species can be quite beneficial. The groundsel is normally self-pollinating but with this new form, they are capable of being pollinated by different plants. This is probably why the groundsel has gone from being a relatively rare flower to flourishing, and being much more common.
What I find even more interesting than this is the fact that this is almost a form of reverse evolution. In the past the groundsel used to have this form of petal but evolved away from it. The hybrid cross then caused it to return to its previous evolutionary status. This shows some of the amazing variability allowed by evolution and shows how this form of hybridization can cause both new and old variations to form.
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/1113/2
Alex Jackson (9)
Revision (11-17):
The Groudsel originally hybridized with a yellow Sicillian flower called Senicio Squalidus also known as Oxford Ragwort. The hybridization was caused by introduction of the flower which was not initially indiginous to the area. The main change that this caused was a change in petal shape from small internal tubes to larger yellow petals. The genetic advantage that this gave was that the Groundsel, which was originally self-pollinating, was able to be pollinated by surrounding flowers (other types of flowers) which increased its genetic diversity. This caused it to rapidly spread when initially it had been quite rare. The article I am citing is calling the new groundsel a evolved form of the same species and as for timing, the beginning of this evolution was when the hybridizing plant was introduced. They should be continuing to evolve (though if this were repeated in a lab it might happen faster.)
The common groundsel is a flowering weed found in Europe which has recently (in the last 300 years) undergone a rather unique form of evolution. It has "borrowed" genes from another plant, introduced 300 years ago, and has prospered in doing so. They have changed their common compact flower, to one which has an expansive yellow petaled blossom.
This is interesting for a few reasons. First, this is an example of where gene flow between species can be quite beneficial. The groundsel is normally self-pollinating but with this new form, they are capable of being pollinated by different plants. This is probably why the groundsel has gone from being a relatively rare flower to flourishing, and being much more common.
What I find even more interesting than this is the fact that this is almost a form of reverse evolution. In the past the groundsel used to have this form of petal but evolved away from it. The hybrid cross then caused it to return to its previous evolutionary status. This shows some of the amazing variability allowed by evolution and shows how this form of hybridization can cause both new and old variations to form.
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/1113/2
Alex Jackson (9)
Revision (11-17):
The Groudsel originally hybridized with a yellow Sicillian flower called Senicio Squalidus also known as Oxford Ragwort. The hybridization was caused by introduction of the flower which was not initially indiginous to the area. The main change that this caused was a change in petal shape from small internal tubes to larger yellow petals. The genetic advantage that this gave was that the Groundsel, which was originally self-pollinating, was able to be pollinated by surrounding flowers (other types of flowers) which increased its genetic diversity. This caused it to rapidly spread when initially it had been quite rare. The article I am citing is calling the new groundsel a evolved form of the same species and as for timing, the beginning of this evolution was when the hybridizing plant was introduced. They should be continuing to evolve (though if this were repeated in a lab it might happen faster.)
posted by PWH @ 6:26 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
What was the other plant that hybridized with the common groundsel?
What do you mean when you wrote "they have changed their common compact flower"? Do you mean instead that the common groundsel evolved a new flower head with yellow petals? So the common groundsel evolved into a new variety.
SUSAN DUONG
Is there any mention of why they think it has gone down this evolutionary path? What has changed in its environment to cause it do so?
-Benjamin Spozio
Cool Stuff. I was just wondering what trait they lost during the selection process? You said they went from a common compact flower to one that has a yellow blossom. What does the compact flower look like? Is the trait they are gaining the expansion of pedals, or a color, or both? Would these hybrid plants form a new species? Also are the genetically engineered flowers mass produced and placed back into their original environments? Thanks for the post.
-Amanda Sceusa
This is interesting. Do you know what the benefits were for the groundsel to only self fertilize? Was there a drought or something? Also what is the name of the introduced plant that the groundsel hybridized with?
Ada Marie Flores
Very interesting article! It's always interesting to find physical examples of things that have evolved and be able to actually see the change. It's also interesting that there is a unit of time that was measured for this evolution. I'm always curious about the time it takes for any kind of trait to evolve fully in a species, etc. and it's interesting that this example has a probable time cap. Do you think it took 300 years to evolve or how much less?
Maura Mulvey
11/16/08
How did the plant acquire the genes that allowed it to pollinate with other plants. You mentioned that the common groundsel acquired this trait from other species, but unless there was cross-species fertilization, that natural selection would cause it to evolve its reproductive characteristics.
-Stephen Lee
Interesting article. I wonder what characteristics allow a plant to be able to develop an adaptation like this. And you said it occurred over the last 300 years. Could this have been done quicker in a lab?
Alex Pavidapha
What do you mean by "The groundsel is normally self-pollinating but with this new form, they are capable of being pollinated by different plants."? Do you mean groundse can pollinate with another plant? or other plants can help groundsel be pollinated within its species?
-Yi, Jeongsang.
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