Audio Edition: This Mighty Tree Disappeared from Forests. Now Genetics Could Bring It Back

Here is the audio edition of today’s post, about the American chestnut, a majestic tree that once dominated many forests in the eastern U.S. - but then an invasive fungal disease wiped out most of them in the last century. Listen about how researchers are using DNA to drastically speed up efforts to breed a resistant strain, with the ultimate goal of restoring these trees to their former glory. If you’re interested in learning more about the topic, check out the links in the written version of this post:Nature Signals is a reader-supported publication. It takes many hours to write and research each post. To receive new posts in your inbox and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Not ready to subscribe? Consider buying me a coffee (or a beer…). Any support is greatly appreciated! Get full access to Nature Signals at ruththornton.substack.com/subscribe