A plant that reproduces sexually but has clone-like offspring

doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02789-7

A plant that reproduces sexually but has clone-like offspring

Peer-reviewed journal

In the authors' words

The plant Rhynchospora tenuis has no exchange of DNA between parental chromosomes during the production of male and female sex cells. Even so, it still transmits chromosomes and retains sexual reproduction. This unusual system restores parental genetic variants, leading to clonal-like inheritance across generations despite sex-cell production and fertilization. Only seeds that replicate the parental combination of chromosomes remain viable.

Main resultThe abstract does not state a limitation.

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Appeared: Friday, September 25. Nature. Peer-reviewed journal.

DOI: 10.1038/d41586-026-02789-7

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