Unveiling the Genetic Mysteries of Endangered Butternut Trees

Undergraduate students from the University of Connecticut have sequenced the DNA of the endangered butternut tree. This effort is part of a larger project aimed at understanding lesser-known endangered species, offering not only critical scientific insights but also invaluable hands-on research experience for the students.

In a global collaboration, genetic information from a range of endangered species, including trees, birds, and deep-sea corals, is being revealed.

The butternut tree produces soft, oily nuts with a delicate walnut flavor. Although unique in taste, it is not commonly consumed in the United States. A comprehensive DNA map of this rare tree has been published in the journal G3 by these University of Connecticut undergraduates.

A Comprehensive Strategy for Preserving Biodiversity

The butternut tree is just the beginning of an expansive initiative to catalog the DNA of endangered species that have been largely ignored. The Biodiversity and Conservation Genomics team at the University of Connecticut’s Institute for Systems Genomics is sequencing the genes of other species like pumpkin ash, red-vented cockatoo, and deep-sea zigzag coral. The program offers students a year-long training in techniques for sequencing and decoding the entire genetic makeup of a single species.

Other collaborators include Oxford Nanopore Technologies and researchers at the Institute for Systems Genomics. Students work closely with local experts involved in restoration and conservation, including the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service in the case of the butternut tree.

The species being studied are endangered but lack a significant history in agriculture, medicine, or scientific research.

An Insight into the Species

The butternut, scientifically known as Juglans cinerea, is a North American walnut species with elongated, oily nuts. The tree is declining due to a fungus from Asia, and the remaining populations are often hybridized with the Japanese walnut, which exhibits some resistance to the fungus. Other species like pumpkin ash are endangered due to insects, while the red-vented cockatoo faces threats from habitat loss and illegal pet trading. Deep-sea corals are also endangered, primarily due to ocean acidification.

There has been limited scientific study on these organisms, in part because DNA sequencing has historically been costly and time-consuming.

The Intricacies of Survival

Understanding the genomes of species that have co-evolved with different diseases can offer clues about genetic resistance. For instance, the team plans to sequence the genome of the Japanese walnut to understand its resistance to the fungal disease affecting the butternut tree.

“Understanding the degree of hybridization between butternut and Japanese walnut, and the genetic factors contributing to resistance against fungal infection is our focus,” says Jill Wegrzyn, the lead researcher on the team.

Additionally, the study explores unique aspects of the species, such as the number of chromosome copies, which differ widely among organisms.

Project Inception and Impact

Initiated last year with a grant from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Earth and Its Future initiative, the program has since received support from the Institute for Systems Genomics and material support from Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Org.one. The latter’s technology facilitates real-time DNA/RNA sequencing of any fragment length, expediting the assembly of reference genomes.

For many of the 11 undergraduate participants, this project is their inaugural research experience and was chosen for its tangible impact.

“The project provides immediate problem-solving opportunities using computational techniques, particularly in the area of conservation,” says student Emily Trybulec.

Reference: The team’s reference genome of the butternut tree is available at GitLab.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Genetic Sequencing

More about Genetic Sequencing

• G3 Journal Article: Link to the scientific article in the G3 journal about the genetic sequencing of the butternut tree.
• GitLab – Butternut Genome: Reference link to the butternut tree’s reference genome for further exploration.