Research Reveals Rapid Mutation Rate of Plant Genomes

Using Arabidopsis thaliana, scientists revealed that in plants, mutations occur which could change the plants genome after sometime. The researchers headed by Dr. Detlef Weigel of Max Planck Insitute for Developmental Biology in Germany and Prof. Michael Lynch of Indiana University studied the genetic changes in five varieties of Arabidopsis for over 30 generations. Results showed that over several years, 20 DNA building blocks had mutated in each of the 5 varieties of Arabidopsis. "The probability that any letter of the genome changes in a single generation is thus about 1 in 140 million" Prof. Lynch said.

Results showed that in Arabidopsis seedling on average, there is one new mutation in each of the two new copies of the genome that it inherits. In Arabidopsis, this is a fast mutation rate considering that the plant produces thousands of seeds in one generation. The results of the study will allow scientists to better calculate diversity and speciation of genomes, would provide clues on the better understanding of how plants become resistant to herbicides and for plant breeders to find mutations to increase crop yield and improve its resistance.

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