"Surprising Genetic Abundance Found in Poisonous Invasive Plant"
Scientists have studied the genome of Sosnowsky's hogweed, an invasive plant known for its poisonous juice that causes skin burns. They discovered that the plant has nearly twice as many genes as most other plants, with 55,000 genes compared to the usual 25,000-35,000. The researchers found that gene duplications are responsible for this phenomenon. The unique bioactive molecules found in hogweed could have practical applications in medicine and pharmacology, potentially leading to the development of new drugs. Understanding the plant's genome could also aid in the development of control and monitoring methods for this invasive species.
