Lamarck's TEs & HGT supplies more Ganja than Darwin can smoke


Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant. It has been shown to have a variety of therapeutic benefits, including reducing inflammation, pain, anxiety, and seizures.

In 2017, a study published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science found that CBD can also be found in the common weed, Erigeron canadensis. The researchers found that CBD was produced by a type of transposable element (TE), or jumping gene, in E. canadensis. TEs are genetic elements that can move from one part of a genome to another.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and transposable elements (TEs) can act without neo-Darwinism. Neo-Darwinism is a theory of evolution that states that evolution is driven by natural selection, which acts on genetic variation within a population. HGT and TEs can introduce new genetic variation into a population, even if there is no natural selection acting on that variation.


HGT is the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another, not through reproduction. This can happen between individuals of the same species, or between different species. TEs are mobile genetic elements that can move around within a genome, or between genomes. They can also insert themselves into new genes, changing their function.

Both HGT and TEs can increase the amount of genetic variation in a population. This can lead to new adaptations, even if there is no natural selection acting on that variation. For example, HGT can transfer CBD genes.

Overall, HGT and TEs can act as agents of evolution, even in the absence of natural selection. They can introduce new genetic variation into a population, and they can shuffle the genetic deck. This can lead to new adaptations (CBD) and new species.

The researchers believe that CBD production in E. canadensis may have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from Cannabis sativa. HGT is the process by which genes are transferred between organisms of different species. It is a common process in bacteria, but it is also thought to occur in plants.

The discovery of CBD in E. canadensis suggests that this compound may have a wider range of natural sources than previously thought. It also raises the possibility that HGT may be a more common way for plants to acquire new genes than previously thought.

Here are some additional details about the study:

  • The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis.

  • The researchers used a technique called RNA sequencing to identify the genes involved in CBD production in E. canadensis.

  • The researchers found that CBD production in E. canadensis is controlled by a TE called a Copia element.

  • The researchers believe that the Copia element in E. canadensis may have been acquired from Cannabis sativa through HGT.

The discovery of CBD in E. canadensis is an exciting finding that has the potential to open up new avenues for research into the therapeutic benefits of CBD. It also raises important questions about the role of HGT in plant evolution.

Lay article:

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-find-cannabis-compound-inside-a-totally-different-plant

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