Unlocking the genetic code of the eucalypt
FollowScientists have sequenced the genetic code of the eucalypt for the first time, revealing how the Australian icon became the world’s favourite hardwood.
The work also gives insights into the formation of the complex essential oils produced by eucalypts, which can help koala preservation efforts, minimise pest damage to plantations and could one day lead to eucalypt oils being a base for jet fuel.
“The genetic code will help us understand a foundation species for the Australian eco-system and how it affects other species, from fungi through to the koala,