This research investigated the genetic history of the common button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) by analyzing mitochondrial DNA from hundreds of mushroom samples collected worldwide. The study revealed how this species evolved and was domesticated for cultivation, providing insights that could help develop better mushroom varieties. Key impacts on everyday life: • Helps improve commercial mushroom production through better understanding of beneficial genetic traits • Enables development of new mushroom varieties with enhanced growing characteristics • Aids conservation of wild mushroom diversity by identifying important natural populations • Provides tools for quality control in mushroom breeding programs • Demonstrates how modern genomics can improve food production