News: Researchers Use Living Fossils to Uncover a Wealth of Genes for Seed Improvement.
- Manuel Basegla
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Published 11AM EST, Fri Nov 28, 2025
Evolutionary investigation into the genomes of primitive, non-flowering plants uncovers genes involved in seed development, which may aid scientists in crop improvement and plant conservation.
Researchers from the New York Plant Genomics Consortium have uncovered thousands of genes that played key roles in the evolution of seeds by decoding the genomes of gymnosperms, the oldest living seed plants. Using extensive sampling from conifers, Ginkgo, and comparison species such as flowering plants and ferns, the team generated the largest collection of gymnosperm ovule transcriptomes to date. This wide biodiversity framework allowed scientists to investigate how early seed structures originated and how gene activity relates to seed development.
Through a combined evolutionary and gene-expression analysis, researchers identified more than 22,000 genes that retain evolutionary signals across seed plants and pinpointed 4,076 candidate genes likely involved in the origin and diversification of seed traits. They further validated several of these genes in gymnosperms like Taxus baccata, showing how species-specific expression patterns support seed dispersal strategies and structural innovation. The results reveal that shifts in gene regulation during ovule and leaf development helped drive major evolutionary transitions in seed plant history.
The collaborative effort—spanning NYBG, NYU, CSHL, and international partners—highlights the power of integrating genomics, evolutionary biology, and living plant collections. Beyond expanding fundamental knowledge, this research provides new genomic tools that may support conservation of threatened gymnosperms and inform future strategies in agriculture to enhance seed traits.
Although cannabis is a flowering plant rather than a gymnosperm, this work has significant implications for its cultivation and improvement. Understanding how specific genes influence seed development, dispersal, and structural innovation across seed plants can inform breeding strategies aimed at optimizing seed viability, vigor, and nutrient profiles in cannabis. Furthermore, insights into evolutionarily conserved gene networks may help identify genetic pathways that regulate reproductive traits, potentially supporting more efficient seed production for hemp cultivation, stabilizing hybrid seed lines, or improving germination reliability—traits that are increasingly important as the cannabis industry scales and seeks greater agricultural consistency.
Source: NYU
