DNA doubled in conifer ancestors

Douglas fir trees in Bryce Canyon

Ancestors of  Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii), such as this one growing in Bryce Canyon National Park, and other conifers underwent genome duplication — adding extra copies of genetic material — around the time of the Permian-Triassic extinction.

Zheng Li

Conifers grew giant genomes thanks to double doses of genetic material.