• Question from:bede

I have been reading the book Evolution, by James Shapiro, in which he discusses Whole Gene Duplication and interspecies hybridization in forming new plant species. He cites (pg 121) Triticale, implying a new species (which I think is sterile) and interspecific hybridization in mustard family to form mustard greens and rape seed as new species. His work it a bit beyond me; so my question is : What about gene and genome duplication in plants. Have new species of plants been produced ? My field is animals and I am at a loss about these possibilities in plants. Hybrid speciation is also referenced to Nature 446, 279-83(2007), to which I have no access.
Thank you
Blair D. Thompson

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  • University of the Pacific, California, USA
  • Posts: 122

Plants do speciate commonly by genome duplication.  These new species can be fertile. 

It has been estimated that polyploidy accounts for 10-30% of fern and angiosperm species.

I'm not sure what role single gene duplication plays in plant speciation, though!