Biological research explores plant adaptation to climate change and evolution

Researchers are investigating biological mechanisms to help forest species adapt to climate change. A collaborative project involving the University of Talca, the University of Concepción, and the University of Chile aims to identify how eucalyptus and pine trees respond to increased drought and wind intensity. By using biotechnological tools and field studies, scientists hope to select individuals with higher resilience to survive more extreme weather patterns.

In a separate biological study, an international team led by the University of Seville has identified how chromosomal inversions act as ‘evolutionary accelerators’ in plants. By reorganizing DNA fragments, these inversions protect specific gene groups from mixing during reproduction, allowing plants to specialize rapidly in diverse environments. This mechanism was observed in Carex species, where certain genomic regions facilitate essential survival traits such as water regulation and drought stress response.