What will your Christmas gifts be placed under this year? A Fraser fir? A Douglas fir? An artificial tree?
While some individuals love the look and smell of a real Christmas tree, others prefer the low upkeep and longevity of an artificial tree.
But what if we could use genetics to improve the Christmas tree? Would you trade in the fake tree for a fir that loses less needles and requires less upkeep?
Here are four facts about using genetics in pursuit of a more perfect Christmas tree:
1) Very little has been known about the genomes of Christmas trees. Megan Molteni of Wired reported last year:
“…the conifer genome is not just enormous-20 billion base pairs compared to your 3 billion-but also pretty weird. At some point in their deep past, spruces, pines, firs, and their relatives acquired a complete second set of genes. Scientists think this genome-wide duplication likely helped shape these species into the tallest, hardiest plants in the world. But it’s also made sequencing them an incredibly daunting challenge. And unlike corn and soybean, there hasn’t been much money available to even try. So far scientists have managed to put together partial DNA blueprints for only a handful of conifers, not including the most popular Christmas tree species.”
2) Scientists and researchers are studying genetic data taken from Christmas trees around the world to better understand the DNA of these trees and increase the potential for genetic improvement. For example, North Carolina State University’s Christmas Tree Genetics Program has been working since 1996 to advance the state’s Christmas tree industry through the application of genetic principles.
“We are doing DNA sequencing to understand the DNA of Christmas trees, and in the long term, this may lead in the future to genetic engineering.” – John Frampton, professor in the department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University
3) Genetics research could lead to the development of Fraser firs that are resistant to pests like Phytophthora root rot and the balsam woolly adelgid. A Christmas tree spends six to 10 years growing before it is cut to be sold, and such pests can kill a tree before that time.
Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism that can infect a Fraser fir and cause yellow-green needles, wilting, dead branches, and eventually tree death.
Balsam woolly adelgid is a small insect that feeds on Fraser firs and kills the trees after several years of infestation.
4) Genetics research is also exploring what separates the best needle-holders from the worst. Using branches from different trees, Gary Chastenger, a plant pathologist at Washington State University, has been researching the genetic variations of trees and needle retention. Via Wired:
Today, Chastagner’s team hangs the branches on racks or wire clotheslines strung across a temperature-controlled concrete cistern, where they rest without water for seven to 10 days. Then, a few well-trained technicians gently rub each branch and rate the needle retention on a scale of one (1 percent of needles fall off) to seven (91 to 100 percent loss).
Chastagner is only interested in the extremes on both sides of the spectrum. Over the years, he’s taken any cuttings that rate zero to one, or six to seven and grafted little bits of them onto rootstocks his lab manages on 15 acres in Puyallup. This process converts each outlying specimen into an isolated stand of genetically identical trees, preserving their unique DNA in what’s called a clonal holding block.
Now, those trees are part of a massive effort to pinpoint the tiny genetic variations that determine why some trees turn out better than others.
Six years ago, Chastagner and researchers at Washington State University, North Carolina State University and University of California, Davis jointly secured $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find genetic markers for Phytophthora root rot resistance and needle retention.
Chastagner’s graduate student, Katie McKeever, is collecting isolates of Phytophthora in various growing areas. By sequencing these samples and conducting pathogenicity trials, McKeever will contribute critical information to the team’s search for mechanisms of resistance in trees. Once the researchers find the relevant genetic markers, they can screen adult trees and select the most promising as seed sources for viable Christmas tree plantations.
The team will use similar techniques to resolve the matter of needle shedding. Chastagner’s multi-decade cataloging of Christmas trees with varying degrees of postharvest needle retention will give this part of the project a jump-start. By using these and other trees, scientists will be able to quickly identify needle-retentive gene sources so growers can produce desirable Christmas trees.
Through genetics research we can improve firs that are used for Christmas trees and ensure the genetic conservation of firs. There is much more to learn about conifer genetics, but as Chastagner said in the interview with Wired, “the potential for genetic improvement in these species is huge.”
What will your Christmas gifts be placed under this year? A Fraser fir? A Douglas fir? An artificial tree?
While some individuals love the look and smell of a real Christmas tree, others prefer the low upkeep and longevity of an artificial tree.
But what if we could use genetics to improve the Christmas tree? Would you trade in the fake tree for a fir that loses less needles and requires less upkeep?
Here are four facts about using genetics in pursuit of a more perfect Christmas tree:
1) Very little has been known about the genomes of Christmas trees. Megan Molteni of Wired reported last year:
“…the conifer genome is not just enormous-20 billion base pairs compared to your 3 billion-but also pretty weird. At some point in their deep past, spruces, pines, firs, and their relatives acquired a complete second set of genes. Scientists think this genome-wide duplication likely helped shape these species into the tallest, hardiest plants in the world. But it’s also made sequencing them an incredibly daunting challenge. And unlike corn and soybean, there hasn’t been much money available to even try. So far scientists have managed to put together partial DNA blueprints for only a handful of conifers, not including the most popular Christmas tree species.”
2) Scientists and researchers are studying genetic data taken from Christmas trees around the world to better understand the DNA of these trees and increase the potential for genetic improvement. For example, North Carolina State University’s Christmas Tree Genetics Program has been working since 1996 to advance the state’s Christmas tree industry through the application of genetic principles.
“We are doing DNA sequencing to understand the DNA of Christmas trees, and in the long term, this may lead in the future to genetic engineering.” – John Frampton, professor in the department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University
3) Genetics research could lead to the development of Fraser firs that are resistant to pests like Phytophthora root rot and the balsam woolly adelgid. A Christmas tree spends six to 10 years growing before it is cut to be sold, and such pests can kill a tree before that time.
Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism that can infect a Fraser fir and cause yellow-green needles, wilting, dead branches, and eventually tree death.
Balsam woolly adelgid is a small insect that feeds on Fraser firs and kills the trees after several years of infestation.
4) Genetics research is also exploring what separates the best needle-holders from the worst. Using branches from different trees, Gary Chastenger, a plant pathologist at Washington State University, has been researching the genetic variations of trees and needle retention. Via Wired:
Today, Chastagner’s team hangs the branches on racks or wire clotheslines strung across a temperature-controlled concrete cistern, where they rest without water for seven to 10 days. Then, a few well-trained technicians gently rub each branch and rate the needle retention on a scale of one (1 percent of needles fall off) to seven (91 to 100 percent loss).
Chastagner is only interested in the extremes on both sides of the spectrum. Over the years, he’s taken any cuttings that rate zero to one, or six to seven and grafted little bits of them onto rootstocks his lab manages on 15 acres in Puyallup. This process converts each outlying specimen into an isolated stand of genetically identical trees, preserving their unique DNA in what’s called a clonal holding block.
Now, those trees are part of a massive effort to pinpoint the tiny genetic variations that determine why some trees turn out better than others.
Six years ago, Chastagner and researchers at Washington State University, North Carolina State University and University of California, Davis jointly secured $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find genetic markers for Phytophthora root rot resistance and needle retention.
Chastagner’s graduate student, Katie McKeever, is collecting isolates of Phytophthora in various growing areas. By sequencing these samples and conducting pathogenicity trials, McKeever will contribute critical information to the team’s search for mechanisms of resistance in trees. Once the researchers find the relevant genetic markers, they can screen adult trees and select the most promising as seed sources for viable Christmas tree plantations.
The team will use similar techniques to resolve the matter of needle shedding. Chastagner’s multi-decade cataloging of Christmas trees with varying degrees of postharvest needle retention will give this part of the project a jump-start. By using these and other trees, scientists will be able to quickly identify needle-retentive gene sources so growers can produce desirable Christmas trees.
Through genetics research we can improve firs that are used for Christmas trees and ensure the genetic conservation of firs. There is much more to learn about conifer genetics, but as Chastagner said in the interview with Wired, “the potential for genetic improvement in these species is huge.”
Sidebars aren’t really as popular as they used to be. In many cases, they end up being more distracting than they are helpful. But sometimes a sidebar makes perfect sense, especially when dealing with lengthy content. That is why I set out to create a sidebar that makes a lot of sense.
Today I’m showing you how you can use the Divi Builder to create a responsive fixed (or sticky) sidebar with smooth scrolling anchor links (or jump links). Because the sidebar remains visible and the anchor links smoothly scroll to different sections on the page, the sidebar stays married to the content, making it a helpful UX feature. Like a document outline, this combination makes your web page content more accessible and easier to read. It is a refreshing solution for those long scrolling pages.
Check it out!
Sneak Peek
Here is a sneak peak of what we will be building together.
The Concept
For those of you who live in Google Docs as much as I do, you are aware of that helpful document outline tool that allows you to easily deploy a fixed sidebar with a clickable outline that jumps to the different headings on your document. I love it because it helps me find information a lot faster. I thought it would be cool to bring this same feature to your website.
What You Need to Get Started
For this tutorial, all you really need is Divi! We will be also be using the Recipes Page from the Food Recipes Layout Pack which is freely accessible from the Divi Builder.
Adding the Layout to your Page
To get started, go ahead and create a new page and deploy the Divi Builder. Select the option to “Choose a Premade Layout”. From the Load From Library popup, select the Food Recipes Layout Pack and then click to use the Recipes Page.
After the layout loads, click to build on the front end.
Creating a New Section
From the front end Divi Builder, create a new section and drag it to the very top of the layout.
Copy the button in the layout’s header section and paste it into the one-column row of the new section you created.
Open the button settings and add the following custom CSS to the Main Element under the advanced tab:
display: block !important;
This simply allows the button to span the full width of the column.
Change the button text to read “Introduction”. And then add the following for the button link url:
#introduction
This is how you create an anchor link. The hashtag (#) tells the browser you are going to be linking to a CSS ID. The following text “introduction” will correspond to the name of the CSS ID which we will add to one of our sections in the layout. The name of the CSS ID can be anything you want. Just make sure it matches the CSS ID you give the section later on.
Duplicate the button and then repeat the process of givin the button a new Button Text and a new Button Link URL. Since this will be an anchor link that jumps to a different section of the page, make sure the CSS ID (the text after the “#”) in unique and corresponds to the name you will give your section later on.
For this button, change the button text to “Ingredients” and the button link URL to “#ingredients”.
Duplicate the button again and then give the new button the button text “Nutrition” and change the button link URL to “#nutrition”.
Duplicate the button one more time and then give the new button the button text “Instructions” and change the button link URL to “#instructions”.
That’s all we need to do for now. We will circle back to this section turn it into a fixed sidebar in a bit.
Adding the CSS IDs to the Sections and Rows
Now that we have all of our button created with the anchor links in place, we are ready to add the corresponding CSS ID names to our sections and rows.
Anchor links will automatically jump to any element on the page with the corresponding CSS ID. A CSS ID can be applied to inline text, modules, rows, or sections. If you wanted to add a CSS ID to heading using HTML, it would look something like this:
Introduction
However, since we want to jump to a section of the page, we can add the CSS ID to the specific section of the page. This will provide the user with enough comfortable viewing space so the visitor can easily recognize where they are on the page. Jumping to inline text or to a module may cause confusion for the visitor.
As we covered earlier each of the button urls we created are meant to correspond to the CSS IDs of the sections they need to jump to.
For the “Introduction” button, we need to add the CSS ID to the section of the page containing the introduction content. To do this, open the section settings of the third section of the page (the section directly under the header) and add the following CSS ID under the advanced tab:
CSS ID: introduction
This will correspond to the Introduction anchor link button we created earlier.
Now in the same section, find the row containing the heading “Ingredients”. Then open the row settings and add the following CSS ID:
CSS ID: ingredients
This will correspond to the Ingredients anchor link button we created earlier.
Scroll down to the next section with the heading “Nutrition” and open the section settings. Then add the following CSS ID:
CSS ID: nutrition
This will correspond to the Nutrition anchor link button we created earlier.
Finally, scroll down to the next section of the layout with the title “Step by Step Instructions”. Then open the section settings and add the following CSS ID under the advanced tab:
CSS ID: instructions
This will correspond to the Instructions anchor link button we created earlier.
Save you changes.
Now is a good time to see if your anchor links are working. Open the page in a new tab and click on the buttons in the top section to make sure they jump/scroll to their corresponding locations on the page.
If they aren’t working, make sure to go back and check the CSS IDs are correct and that they match.
Creating the Fixed Sidebar Layout
Adding Left Margins to Sections to Create Space for the Sidebar
Having anchor links at the top of the page is fine for things like a table of contents. But for this use case, we want to keep those anchor links visible to the user at all times so the user doesn’t have to scroll back to the top of the page after clicking one of the links. A fixed sidebar will solve this problem since it will stay fixed on the side of the page as the user clicks the anchor links.
But before we position the sidebar, we need to create some space for it on the left side of our page. To do this we will add a left margin to each section of the layout.
The amount of left margin we add to each section will be equal to the width of the sidebar so now is the time to decide just how wide you want the sidebar to be. For this example, a 20% width will do.
Open the settings of the second section (the one directly under our anchor link buttons) and add the following custom margin:
Custom Margin: 20% left
Now before you save the settings, right click on the Custom Margin option and click “Copy Custom Margin” and the save the settings.
On each of the remaining sections throughout your page layout, paste the custom margin to the section by right clicking on the section and clicking “Paste Custom Margin”.
This will give a 20% left margin to all of your sections except the very top section containing the anchor link buttons.
Creating the Fixed Sidebar
To create the sidebar, we will need to add some custom CSS to the top section in order to give it a fixed position on the left of the page. So basically, we will turn the top section into a fixed sidebar. To do this open the settings of the top section and add the following custom CSS to the Main Element:
This CSS gives the section a fixed position with a width of 20% of the page. It also positions the section to the left of the page and 80px from the top of the page to accomodate the height of the header navigation. The 100% height makes sure the section spans the full height of the page.
Now view the page in another browser tab to see the functionality. As you scroll down the page, the sidebar stays fixed and you can click the anchor link buttons to navigate to the different sections with ease.
Fixing the Footer Overlap
You may have noticed that the section is overlapping the bottom footer bar at the bottom of the page.
There are a few ways to address this problem. For example, I could take out “height: 100%” from the custom CSS for the section or you could add some CSS to the page settings to adjust the width of the footer bar. But if you want to keep the section height at 100%, an easy fix is to take out the section background color. Open the section settings of the section we are using for the sidebar and add the following background color:
Background Color: rgba(255,255,255,0)
If you want to change the color of the sidebar, you can open the page settings and change the Content Area Background Color.
Since the section background color is transparent, the content area background color for your page shines through. And since all of our other sections have background color, it will only show through the sidebar section without overlapping the bottom footer bar.
Making Adjustments for Mobile
This design really doesn’t make sense for smartphones because there is no room for a sidebar and having the links at the top of the page will require the user to scroll back up each time they want to click an anchor link. But the design will still work for tablet, but you may need to create some more room for those anchor links. To do this, open the row settings for the row of the section sidebar and update the following:
Custom Width: 100
Custom Padding (desktop): 10% left, 10% right
Custom Padding (tablet): 0% left, 0% right
Now all we have to do is hide (or disable) the section on smartphone. To do that, open the section settings and go over to the advanced tab and click the check box to disable on smartphone.
That’s it. You now have a responsive fixed sidebar menu with smooth scrolling anchor links!
The Final Result
Now let’s check the final result.
And here is what the layout looks like on tablet.
Learn More About Fixed Elements and Anchor Links
If you found this tutorial helpful, check out some of our related tutorials below:
The beauty of this setup is you can easily add fixed sidebars to any page with different anchor links (or anything you want). Since your sidebar is basically a Divi section, you can customize it using the built-in settings, add more rows and use any combination of modules you want.
This setup would be great for membership courses, tutorials, FAQ’s, portfolios, or long blog posts. You can even use it for one page websites as well. Do you have other uses to share? I’m interested to hear what they are in the comments.
What will your Christmas gifts be placed under this year? A Fraser fir? A Douglas fir? An artificial tree?
While some individuals love the look and smell of a real Christmas tree, others prefer the low upkeep and longevity of an artificial tree.
But what if we could use genetics to improve the Christmas tree? Would you trade in the fake tree for a fir that loses less needles and requires less upkeep?
Here are four facts about using genetics in pursuit of a more perfect Christmas tree:
1) Very little has been known about the genomes of Christmas trees. Megan Molteni of Wired reported last year:
“…the conifer genome is not just enormous-20 billion base pairs compared to your 3 billion-but also pretty weird. At some point in their deep past, spruces, pines, firs, and their relatives acquired a complete second set of genes. Scientists think this genome-wide duplication likely helped shape these species into the tallest, hardiest plants in the world. But it’s also made sequencing them an incredibly daunting challenge. And unlike corn and soybean, there hasn’t been much money available to even try. So far scientists have managed to put together partial DNA blueprints for only a handful of conifers, not including the most popular Christmas tree species.”
2) Scientists and researchers are studying genetic data taken from Christmas trees around the world to better understand the DNA of these trees and increase the potential for genetic improvement. For example, North Carolina State University’s Christmas Tree Genetics Program has been working since 1996 to advance the state’s Christmas tree industry through the application of genetic principles.
“We are doing DNA sequencing to understand the DNA of Christmas trees, and in the long term, this may lead in the future to genetic engineering.” – John Frampton, professor in the department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University
3) Genetics research could lead to the development of Fraser firs that are resistant to pests like Phytophthora root rot and the balsam woolly adelgid. A Christmas tree spends six to 10 years growing before it is cut to be sold, and such pests can kill a tree before that time.
Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism that can infect a Fraser fir and cause yellow-green needles, wilting, dead branches, and eventually tree death.
Balsam woolly adelgid is a small insect that feeds on Fraser firs and kills the trees after several years of infestation.
4) Genetics research is also exploring what separates the best needle-holders from the worst. Using branches from different trees, Gary Chastenger, a plant pathologist at Washington State University, has been researching the genetic variations of trees and needle retention. Via Wired:
Today, Chastagner’s team hangs the branches on racks or wire clotheslines strung across a temperature-controlled concrete cistern, where they rest without water for seven to 10 days. Then, a few well-trained technicians gently rub each branch and rate the needle retention on a scale of one (1 percent of needles fall off) to seven (91 to 100 percent loss).
Chastagner is only interested in the extremes on both sides of the spectrum. Over the years, he’s taken any cuttings that rate zero to one, or six to seven and grafted little bits of them onto rootstocks his lab manages on 15 acres in Puyallup. This process converts each outlying specimen into an isolated stand of genetically identical trees, preserving their unique DNA in what’s called a clonal holding block.
Now, those trees are part of a massive effort to pinpoint the tiny genetic variations that determine why some trees turn out better than others.
Six years ago, Chastagner and researchers at Washington State University, North Carolina State University and University of California, Davis jointly secured $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find genetic markers for Phytophthora root rot resistance and needle retention.
Chastagner’s graduate student, Katie McKeever, is collecting isolates of Phytophthora in various growing areas. By sequencing these samples and conducting pathogenicity trials, McKeever will contribute critical information to the team’s search for mechanisms of resistance in trees. Once the researchers find the relevant genetic markers, they can screen adult trees and select the most promising as seed sources for viable Christmas tree plantations.
The team will use similar techniques to resolve the matter of needle shedding. Chastagner’s multi-decade cataloging of Christmas trees with varying degrees of postharvest needle retention will give this part of the project a jump-start. By using these and other trees, scientists will be able to quickly identify needle-retentive gene sources so growers can produce desirable Christmas trees.
Through genetics research we can improve firs that are used for Christmas trees and ensure the genetic conservation of firs. There is much more to learn about conifer genetics, but as Chastagner said in the interview with Wired, “the potential for genetic improvement in these species is huge.”
If you’ve spent any time on the internet at all, chances are you’ve encountered an HTTP status code.
Redirect Path). This type of tool will show you directly in your browser when you run into a redirect.
It’s important to note that an HTTP 302 status code is caused by the web server you’re attempting to reach. It’s not an issue with your web browser, or anything you can control on your end of things.
If you’re thinking about setting up 302 redirects on your own website, you should know that these types of temporary redirects aren’t appreciated by Google. Google’s crawler will follow and honor a permanent 301 redirect, but will ignore any temporary 302 redirects you set up. If you want to maintain your search ranking on a page you need to redirect to a new location, opt for a permanent 301 redirect instead.
What will your Christmas gifts be placed under this year? A Fraser fir? A Douglas fir? An artificial tree?
While some individuals love the look and smell of a real Christmas tree, others prefer the low upkeep and longevity of an artificial tree.
But what if we could use genetics to improve the Christmas tree? Would you trade in the fake tree for a fir that loses less needles and requires less upkeep?
Here are four facts about using genetics in pursuit of a more perfect Christmas tree:
1) Very little has been known about the genomes of Christmas trees. Megan Molteni of Wired reported last year:
“…the conifer genome is not just enormous-20 billion base pairs compared to your 3 billion-but also pretty weird. At some point in their deep past, spruces, pines, firs, and their relatives acquired a complete second set of genes. Scientists think this genome-wide duplication likely helped shape these species into the tallest, hardiest plants in the world. But it’s also made sequencing them an incredibly daunting challenge. And unlike corn and soybean, there hasn’t been much money available to even try. So far scientists have managed to put together partial DNA blueprints for only a handful of conifers, not including the most popular Christmas tree species.”
2) Scientists and researchers are studying genetic data taken from Christmas trees around the world to better understand the DNA of these trees and increase the potential for genetic improvement. For example, North Carolina State University’s Christmas Tree Genetics Program has been working since 1996 to advance the state’s Christmas tree industry through the application of genetic principles.
“We are doing DNA sequencing to understand the DNA of Christmas trees, and in the long term, this may lead in the future to genetic engineering.” – John Frampton, professor in the department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University
3) Genetics research could lead to the development of Fraser firs that are resistant to pests like Phytophthora root rot and the balsam woolly adelgid. A Christmas tree spends six to 10 years growing before it is cut to be sold, and such pests can kill a tree before that time.
Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism that can infect a Fraser fir and cause yellow-green needles, wilting, dead branches, and eventually tree death.
Balsam woolly adelgid is a small insect that feeds on Fraser firs and kills the trees after several years of infestation.
4) Genetics research is also exploring what separates the best needle-holders from the worst. Using branches from different trees, Gary Chastenger, a plant pathologist at Washington State University, has been researching the genetic variations of trees and needle retention. Via Wired:
Today, Chastagner’s team hangs the branches on racks or wire clotheslines strung across a temperature-controlled concrete cistern, where they rest without water for seven to 10 days. Then, a few well-trained technicians gently rub each branch and rate the needle retention on a scale of one (1 percent of needles fall off) to seven (91 to 100 percent loss).
Chastagner is only interested in the extremes on both sides of the spectrum. Over the years, he’s taken any cuttings that rate zero to one, or six to seven and grafted little bits of them onto rootstocks his lab manages on 15 acres in Puyallup. This process converts each outlying specimen into an isolated stand of genetically identical trees, preserving their unique DNA in what’s called a clonal holding block.
Now, those trees are part of a massive effort to pinpoint the tiny genetic variations that determine why some trees turn out better than others.
Six years ago, Chastagner and researchers at Washington State University, North Carolina State University and University of California, Davis jointly secured $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find genetic markers for Phytophthora root rot resistance and needle retention.
Chastagner’s graduate student, Katie McKeever, is collecting isolates of Phytophthora in various growing areas. By sequencing these samples and conducting pathogenicity trials, McKeever will contribute critical information to the team’s search for mechanisms of resistance in trees. Once the researchers find the relevant genetic markers, they can screen adult trees and select the most promising as seed sources for viable Christmas tree plantations.
The team will use similar techniques to resolve the matter of needle shedding. Chastagner’s multi-decade cataloging of Christmas trees with varying degrees of postharvest needle retention will give this part of the project a jump-start. By using these and other trees, scientists will be able to quickly identify needle-retentive gene sources so growers can produce desirable Christmas trees.
Through genetics research we can improve firs that are used for Christmas trees and ensure the genetic conservation of firs. There is much more to learn about conifer genetics, but as Chastagner said in the interview with Wired, “the potential for genetic improvement in these species is huge.”
What will your Christmas gifts be placed under this year? A Fraser fir? A Douglas fir? An artificial tree?
While some individuals love the look and smell of a real Christmas tree, others prefer the low upkeep and longevity of an artificial tree.
But what if we could use genetics to improve the Christmas tree? Would you trade in the fake tree for a fir that loses less needles and requires less upkeep?
Here are four facts about using genetics in pursuit of a more perfect Christmas tree:
1) Very little has been known about the genomes of Christmas trees. Megan Molteni of Wired reported last year:
“…the conifer genome is not just enormous-20 billion base pairs compared to your 3 billion-but also pretty weird. At some point in their deep past, spruces, pines, firs, and their relatives acquired a complete second set of genes. Scientists think this genome-wide duplication likely helped shape these species into the tallest, hardiest plants in the world. But it’s also made sequencing them an incredibly daunting challenge. And unlike corn and soybean, there hasn’t been much money available to even try. So far scientists have managed to put together partial DNA blueprints for only a handful of conifers, not including the most popular Christmas tree species.”
2) Scientists and researchers are studying genetic data taken from Christmas trees around the world to better understand the DNA of these trees and increase the potential for genetic improvement. For example, North Carolina State University’s Christmas Tree Genetics Program has been working since 1996 to advance the state’s Christmas tree industry through the application of genetic principles.
“We are doing DNA sequencing to understand the DNA of Christmas trees, and in the long term, this may lead in the future to genetic engineering.” – John Frampton, professor in the department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University
3) Genetics research could lead to the development of Fraser firs that are resistant to pests like Phytophthora root rot and the balsam woolly adelgid. A Christmas tree spends six to 10 years growing before it is cut to be sold, and such pests can kill a tree before that time.
Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism that can infect a Fraser fir and cause yellow-green needles, wilting, dead branches, and eventually tree death.
Balsam woolly adelgid is a small insect that feeds on Fraser firs and kills the trees after several years of infestation.
4) Genetics research is also exploring what separates the best needle-holders from the worst. Using branches from different trees, Gary Chastenger, a plant pathologist at Washington State University, has been researching the genetic variations of trees and needle retention. Via Wired:
Today, Chastagner’s team hangs the branches on racks or wire clotheslines strung across a temperature-controlled concrete cistern, where they rest without water for seven to 10 days. Then, a few well-trained technicians gently rub each branch and rate the needle retention on a scale of one (1 percent of needles fall off) to seven (91 to 100 percent loss).
Chastagner is only interested in the extremes on both sides of the spectrum. Over the years, he’s taken any cuttings that rate zero to one, or six to seven and grafted little bits of them onto rootstocks his lab manages on 15 acres in Puyallup. This process converts each outlying specimen into an isolated stand of genetically identical trees, preserving their unique DNA in what’s called a clonal holding block.
Now, those trees are part of a massive effort to pinpoint the tiny genetic variations that determine why some trees turn out better than others.
Six years ago, Chastagner and researchers at Washington State University, North Carolina State University and University of California, Davis jointly secured $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find genetic markers for Phytophthora root rot resistance and needle retention.
Chastagner’s graduate student, Katie McKeever, is collecting isolates of Phytophthora in various growing areas. By sequencing these samples and conducting pathogenicity trials, McKeever will contribute critical information to the team’s search for mechanisms of resistance in trees. Once the researchers find the relevant genetic markers, they can screen adult trees and select the most promising as seed sources for viable Christmas tree plantations.
The team will use similar techniques to resolve the matter of needle shedding. Chastagner’s multi-decade cataloging of Christmas trees with varying degrees of postharvest needle retention will give this part of the project a jump-start. By using these and other trees, scientists will be able to quickly identify needle-retentive gene sources so growers can produce desirable Christmas trees.
Through genetics research we can improve firs that are used for Christmas trees and ensure the genetic conservation of firs. There is much more to learn about conifer genetics, but as Chastagner said in the interview with Wired, “the potential for genetic improvement in these species is huge.”
What will your Christmas gifts be placed under this year? A Fraser fir? A Douglas fir? An artificial tree?
While some individuals love the look and smell of a real Christmas tree, others prefer the low upkeep and longevity of an artificial tree.
But what if we could use genetics to improve the Christmas tree? Would you trade in the fake tree for a fir that loses less needles and requires less upkeep?
Here are four facts about using genetics in pursuit of a more perfect Christmas tree:
1) Very little has been known about the genomes of Christmas trees. Megan Molteni of Wired reported last year:
“…the conifer genome is not just enormous-20 billion base pairs compared to your 3 billion-but also pretty weird. At some point in their deep past, spruces, pines, firs, and their relatives acquired a complete second set of genes. Scientists think this genome-wide duplication likely helped shape these species into the tallest, hardiest plants in the world. But it’s also made sequencing them an incredibly daunting challenge. And unlike corn and soybean, there hasn’t been much money available to even try. So far scientists have managed to put together partial DNA blueprints for only a handful of conifers, not including the most popular Christmas tree species.”
2) Scientists and researchers are studying genetic data taken from Christmas trees around the world to better understand the DNA of these trees and increase the potential for genetic improvement. For example, North Carolina State University’s Christmas Tree Genetics Program has been working since 1996 to advance the state’s Christmas tree industry through the application of genetic principles.
“We are doing DNA sequencing to understand the DNA of Christmas trees, and in the long term, this may lead in the future to genetic engineering.” – John Frampton, professor in the department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University
3) Genetics research could lead to the development of Fraser firs that are resistant to pests like Phytophthora root rot and the balsam woolly adelgid. A Christmas tree spends six to 10 years growing before it is cut to be sold, and such pests can kill a tree before that time.
Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism that can infect a Fraser fir and cause yellow-green needles, wilting, dead branches, and eventually tree death.
Balsam woolly adelgid is a small insect that feeds on Fraser firs and kills the trees after several years of infestation.
4) Genetics research is also exploring what separates the best needle-holders from the worst. Using branches from different trees, Gary Chastenger, a plant pathologist at Washington State University, has been researching the genetic variations of trees and needle retention. Via Wired:
Today, Chastagner’s team hangs the branches on racks or wire clotheslines strung across a temperature-controlled concrete cistern, where they rest without water for seven to 10 days. Then, a few well-trained technicians gently rub each branch and rate the needle retention on a scale of one (1 percent of needles fall off) to seven (91 to 100 percent loss).
Chastagner is only interested in the extremes on both sides of the spectrum. Over the years, he’s taken any cuttings that rate zero to one, or six to seven and grafted little bits of them onto rootstocks his lab manages on 15 acres in Puyallup. This process converts each outlying specimen into an isolated stand of genetically identical trees, preserving their unique DNA in what’s called a clonal holding block.
Now, those trees are part of a massive effort to pinpoint the tiny genetic variations that determine why some trees turn out better than others.
Six years ago, Chastagner and researchers at Washington State University, North Carolina State University and University of California, Davis jointly secured $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find genetic markers for Phytophthora root rot resistance and needle retention.
Chastagner’s graduate student, Katie McKeever, is collecting isolates of Phytophthora in various growing areas. By sequencing these samples and conducting pathogenicity trials, McKeever will contribute critical information to the team’s search for mechanisms of resistance in trees. Once the researchers find the relevant genetic markers, they can screen adult trees and select the most promising as seed sources for viable Christmas tree plantations.
The team will use similar techniques to resolve the matter of needle shedding. Chastagner’s multi-decade cataloging of Christmas trees with varying degrees of postharvest needle retention will give this part of the project a jump-start. By using these and other trees, scientists will be able to quickly identify needle-retentive gene sources so growers can produce desirable Christmas trees.
Through genetics research we can improve firs that are used for Christmas trees and ensure the genetic conservation of firs. There is much more to learn about conifer genetics, but as Chastagner said in the interview with Wired, “the potential for genetic improvement in these species is huge.”
