Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered the origin of a curious duplication that gives plants multiple ways to override instructions that are coded into their DNA. This research could help scientists exploit a plant's existing systems to favor traits that make it more resilient to environmental changes, like heat or drought stress.

The study led by Xuehua Zhong, a professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, was published Nov. 6 in Science Advances.

Zhong's new research focuses on DNA methylation, a normal biological process in living cells wherein small chemical groups called methyl groups are added to DNA. This activity controls which genes are turned on and off, which in turn affects different traits -- including how organisms respond to their environments.

Read more at: Washington University in St. Louis

Xuehua Zhong (right), professor of biology at WashU, studies the evolutionary strategies that plants use to thrive and survive. She frequently studies Arabidopsis thaliana, or thale cress. (Photo Credit: Sean Garcia, WashU)