Research reveals genetic patterns in trees for adaptation

Sally Aitken, a UBC professor of forest and conservation sciences, co-authored a study that discovered genes in trees that allowed certain species to adapt to varying climates, CBC reported.

The goal of the research was to understand the genetic differences in trees in order to improve reforestation.

“Historically, the trees were already matched with their climate, but with climate change they’ve become mismatched,” Aitken said. “At a fundamental level, we started this research to better understand how to rematch the right trees with the right climates.”