Mosaic Fungal Individuals Have the Potential to Evolve Within a Single Generation

This research reveals that certain fungi can evolve and adapt within a single lifetime, rather than requiring multiple generations like most organisms. The fungus Armillaria gallica can maintain genetic diversity within its body through a process called haploid genetic mosaicism, where different parts of the fungus contain different genetic variants. This allows individual fungi to adapt to changing environmental conditions in real-time. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps explain how some fungi can survive for thousands of years and grow to enormous sizes – Provides insights into how organisms can adapt to environmental changes – Advances our understanding of evolution and genetic diversity – Could lead to better methods for controlling harmful fungi or promoting beneficial ones – May inspire new approaches to developing adaptable organisms for various applications