Charles Darwin hypothesised that some plant species with two distinct forms of flower had evolved that way to promote out-crossing by insect pollinators. Photo: GettyImagesLondon: The scientists have unlocked a 51.7-million-year-old genetic secret to a landmark theory proposed by English naturalist Charles Darwin more than 150 years ago. Researchers have identified the cluster of genes responsible for reproductive traits in the Primula flower. His ground-breaking insight into the significance of the two forms of flower known as “pins” and “thrums” coined the term “heterostyly”, and subsequent studies contributed to the foundation of modern genetic theory. “Not only did we identify the supergene but we found it is specific to just one of the flower forms, the thrum.

Source: Mint December 05, 2016 10:08 UTC