Written by Administrator Thursday, 30 August 2012 10:42

Adaptable orchids use epigenetics, according to ScienceDaily, 10 Aug 2010 and Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2010; DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msq150. Scientists at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew's Jodrell Laboratory are studying the effects of epigenetics in orchids to see how they may adapt to environmental changes. Epigenetics refers to changes in the way genes are expressed. These changes can be brought on by environmental influences and can enable plants of the same species to grow in different environments. The Royal Botanic Garden scientists are studying three recently formed ‘hybrid’ species of European marsh-orchids (Dactylorhiza). The plants are very similar in genetic heritage but “differ considerably in ecological requirements, morphology, physical characteristics and distribution.” Epigenetic changes do not alter the DNA code of the genes, but the effects can be inherited. The researchers claim epigenetic changes could enable plants to evolve rapidly without having to wait for mutations to change the structure and function of the plants, as traditional evolutionary theory says. The researchers wrote: “Our results strongly suggest a need to expand our current evolutionary framework to encompass a complementary epigenetic dimension when seeking to understand population processes that drive phenotypic evolution and adaptation.”
Link: ScienceDaily