Original story from McGill University (Montreal, Canada). Complexity of the oat’s DNA has long resisted detailed study; this first-ever oat pangenome was built by an international consortium that included researchers at McGill’s Macdonald Campus. Researchers have cracked one of agriculture’s most complicated genomes, revealing long-hidden DNA rearrangements that could help scientists breed oats that are more resilient, nutritious and sustainable. The study, by an international consortium that included researchers from McGill University, presents the first-ever ‘pangenome’ and ‘pantranscriptome’ of oats. These map all known oat genes and track how they behave across 33 varieties that grow around the world. Unravelling a sixfold genome Oats are valued for their heart-healthy fiber and central role in plant-based foods like oat milk. Yet, because the crop carries six sets of every chromosome, a genetic complexity known as hexaploidy, its DNA has long resisted detailed study. Using advanced sequencing technologies, the PanOat consortium assembled complete genomes for 33 wild and domesticated oat lines and analyzed gene activity in six plant tissues, from roots to grains. The resulting genetic atlas shows how oats compensate for missing or inactive genes by increasing activity in related ones. This adaptation helps maintain yield and stability despite their intricate DNA structure. Clues from the past, tools for the future The team also uncovered large chromosomal inversions and translocations that influence key traits such as flowering time, plant height and yield. Remarkably, some of these genetic changes trace back to mid-20th-century ‘mutation breeding’, when radiation was used to accelerate crop…
