Why in News
This research leverages data from one of the world's oldest biological experiments, a barley breeding experiment initiated in 1929.
The study investigates how barley has adapted over time to both:
Agricultural pressures: Selective breeding practices by humans.
Natural environment: The influence of the surrounding environment on barley survival and reproduction.
Findings:
Over several generations, natural selection has significantly reduced the genetic diversity of the barley population.
A single genetic lineage (clonal) has become dominant, constituting most of the current population.
Significance:
This research highlights the power of long-term studies in understanding:
Adaptive evolution: How organisms change over time to better suit their environment.
The impact of human intervention: How our agricultural practices can influence the genetic makeup of crops.
Barley (Hordeum vulgare), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally.
It was one of the first cultivated grains
Barley prefers relatively low temperatures and well-drained soil to grow.
It is relatively tolerant of drought and soil salinity but is less winter-hardy than wheat or rye
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