Two New Mexico State University professors, Donovan Bailey and Zachary Rogers, have played a significant role in a global scientific endeavor that has contributed to a major breakthrough in plant science. Led by the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens in London, a group of 279 researchers, including Bailey and Rogers, utilized a breakthrough DNA-sequencing toolkit to decode DNA from samples of over 9,500 species of angiosperms, which are seed plants that produce flowers.
The findings of this collaborative effort have been published in the journal “Nature” in an article titled “Phylogenomics and the rise of the Angiosperms.” The research sheds new light on the evolutionary history of flowering plants and provides a wealth of genetic data that can aid in various future research endeavors related to plant classification, medicinal compounds, and conservation efforts in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Rogers highlighted the significance of utilizing herbarium specimens in this study, stating that more than half of the data generated came from these dried plant samples stored in collection facilities. Meanwhile, Bailey's expertise in working with the mustard plant family played a crucial role in organizing the sampling for this specific plant group.
The development of universal genomic markers in the DNA toolkit, as described by Bailey, has opened up new possibilities for researchers globally, allowing for the advancement of research in plant genomics. The vast amount of data and analysis unlocked by this study has paved the way for a comprehensive tree of life for all known species of flowering plants.
Bailey emphasized the advancements made possible by this project, stating, “It’s an advance in terms of the data that was used, the number of species involved, and the utilization of museum collections.” The open access nature of the genomic data and the tree of life itself signifies a step towards the democratization of scientific knowledge on a global scale.
The work of Bailey, Rogers, and their fellow researchers has not only expanded our understanding of the flowering plant tree of life but also set a foundation for future botanical research and conservation efforts worldwide.