{
  "id": 7890727,
  "title": "Brazilian sedge reproduces sexually but without DNA reshuffling, producing genetic clones",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/brazilian-sedge-reproduces-sexually-but-without-dna-reshuffling",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-16T22:40:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-brazilian-sedge-sexually-dna-reshuffling.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Most sexually reproducing organisms rely on meiosis to produce genetically diverse offspring. However, the Brazilian beak-sedge Rhynchospora tenuis reproduces sexually without any DNA reshuffling, producing offspring that are genetic clones of their mother. This study, published in Nature, reveals that R. tenuis has lost the ability to perform meiotic crossovers, which are typically responsible for generating genetic diversity. The plant has unique chromosome structures, including holocentric chromosomes with spread centromere activity and an unusual organization. Meiosis in R. tenuis follows an atypical order, separating duplicated chromosomes before their matching partners are separated. This allows the plant to continue reproducing sexually even without crossovers. Researchers found no evidence of chromosome exchanges during the female reproductive pathway in over 10,000 pollen nuclei. Additionally, certain chromosomes have grown larger due to the accumulation of transposable elements, which are then preferentially passed on to the offspring. Despite the absence of genetic recombination, strong post-fertilization selection ensures that only offspring with the correct chromosome combination survive, resulting in genetically identical clones to the mother plant. Understanding R. tenuis' reproductive mechanism could provide insights for plant breeding strategies, as it demonstrates a unique way for plants to maintain genetic consistency while still reproducing sexually.",
  "summary": "Sexual reproduction usually reshuffles genetic information, creating offspring that differ from their parents. But one small plant takes an unexpected route. In a new study published in Nature, an international team led by André Marques at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne has shown that the Brazilian beak-sedge Rhynchospora tenuis reproduces sexually—producing…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}