A new, large-scale analysis of the relationships among members of the largest subfamily of grasses, which includes wheat and barley, reveals gene-duplication events that contributed to the adaptation of the plants to cooler temperatures. These adaptations allowed the grasses to thrive in temperate climates and have been exploited by humans to extend the range and season for growing important crop plants. A paper describing the study, led by Penn State scientists, appears online in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.
