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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Oaks last 800 years with help of DNA double take

Iconic tree may owe its long life to gene duplication.
Low angle view of English Oak (Quercus robur) in fog

The long lifespan of the pedunculate oak, also known as the English oak, may stem from an extra helping of genes for disease resistance. Credit: Gustaf Emanuelsson/Folio/Getty

Oaks can survive for centuries despite facing a wide range of parasites and other threats. A genetic analysis suggests that the trees’ longevity may result from a double dose of genes that are associated with resistance to disease.

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Nature 558, 489 (2018)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-05474-6

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