rapid-adaptation
Rapid adaptation refers to the ability of plant populations to evolve and adjust to environmental changes within relatively short timescales, challenging traditional views of plant evolution as a slow process. This concept is critical for understanding how plants respond to climate change, shifting pest pressures, and other rapidly changing environmental conditions. By studying rapid adaptation, researchers gain insights into the genetic mechanisms and phenotypic plasticity that enable plant populations to maintain fitness and survival in dynamic ecosystems.
PubMed · 2026-02-17
Urban dandelions evolved lead tolerance in just 5 generations by rapidly adapting their metal transport genes.
Heritable tolerance in 5 generations
Parallel selection on HMA4 genes
Decadal-scale adaptive evolution