AI Insight
A study led by McGill University researchers suggests that pressed plant specimens stored in herbaria, some collected centuries ago, can be used to track genetic changes in plant populations over time. By analyzing DNA extracted from these historical samples, scientists can reconstruct how genetic diversity has shifted in response to environmental pressures, habitat loss, and other factors. This approach offers a way to assess extinction risk in plant species by comparing past and present genetic profiles.
Why it matters
Access to centuries of genetic data could significantly improve conservation strategies by identifying plant species that have experienced critical losses in genetic diversity before population collapse becomes irreversible. This method also provides a cost-effective tool for monitoring biodiversity changes without relying solely on contemporary sampling.
Pressed plant specimens collected centuries ago and stored in herbaria around the world could play a key role in facilitating the tracking of genetic change and extinction risk in plants, a McGill University-led study indicates.
Source: Historic plant collections offer a window into genetic change