It seems that scientists are delving deep to understand plant biology and evolution.
Science Journal reports that researchers have just completed a four year study and unraveled the DNA code of a tree.
The genome of the black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) was sequenced in a four-year study and scientists believe the information that they retrieved will help in the understanding of plant biology and evolution.
Armed with the data it is hoped that the information will assist in creating higher yields in forestry. However, the Poplar is one of the simpler trees to and unraveling the DNA at just 450 million base pairs (The DNA 'letter' that make up the code) as apposed to a pine tree for example that has 50 times greater base pairs.
Trees are of vital importance to the world ecology but I sense it could take the might of a supercomputer and a few man hours to map the whole planet.
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