Unlocking Ancient Tree Secrets: Clonal Mutation Insights
A team of researchers has sequenced the Pando aspen, one of the world's oldest trees, to study mutations in clonally reproducing organisms. The Pando aspen, a triploid species that reproduces by cloning, occupies 42.6 hectares in Utah's Fishlake National Forest and is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. The study identified approximately 4,000 genetic variants in the tree, highlighting its unique evolutionary traits, such as larger cells and enhanced fitness, which contribute to its longevity.