Ep. 513 - The Enigma of the Galax Genome

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Science & Medicine, Natural Sciences

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 February 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Spend any time in the southern Appalachian Mountains and you are bound to cross paths with Galax urceolata. This wonderful little evergreen herb seems to be at home in a variety of habitats from forest streams to granite outcrops and everywhere in between. It is also culturally significant and even suffers from poaching in some areas. Despite its place in Appalachian ecology and history, Galax holds many mysteries, especially when it comes to its genome. Join me and Dr. Shelly Gaynor as we explore the polyploidy and evolution in Galax. This episode was produced in part by Rich, Shad, Maddie, Owen, Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, do you like In Defensive Plants? Do you enjoy that it comes out each and every week? Consider supporting it.
0:04.6	There's so many great ways to do that, but one of the best is to become a patron over at patreon.com
0:09.1	slash In Defensive Plants. For a little bit of support each month, you get access to things like bonus episodes,
0:14.2	and we're currently running a really fun series where the wonderful Sarah Johnson and I learn how to garden better. We're talking everything from native plants to food,
0:21.8	and yes, even aquatic gardening and aquariums. So join us over at patreon.com slash indefensive plants
0:27.6	and help keep the show up and running. Hello everyone and welcome to the Indefensive Plants
0:32.0	podcast, the official podcast of Indefensiveplants.com. What's up? This is your host, Matt. Welcome to the show.
0:37.3	How is everyone
0:37.9	doing this week? Today, we are talking about a truly charismatic plant if you exist anywhere in
0:44.2	southern Appalachia. We are talking about Gaelax Ursula. Or as many of you know it, by its first name,
0:49.7	Gaelax. It's an awesome little evergreen that lives just as comfortably in deep dark forest as it does up
0:55.8	exposed on granite outcrops. A plant that can live across such a variety of habitat is bound to
1:01.1	catch the attention of scientists, and that's exactly what has happened to my guest today.
1:05.1	Joining me is Dr. Shelley Gaynor to talk about the genetic insights as to why it might succeed
1:10.0	in some places and not others.
1:11.8	And as you're going to hear, this story is extremely complicated, but in a fun way.
1:15.8	I don't want to steal any of her thunder, so let's go learn about the wonderful world of
1:19.5	Gaelax and polypolypolyde. Without further ado, here's my conversation with Dr.
1:23.6	Shailie Gaynor. I hope you enjoy.
1:39.7	Thank you. Dr. Shaley Gainer. I hope you enjoy. All right, Dr. Shelley Gainer, welcome to the podcast. I am really pumped to talk to you today.
1:44.5	Your research is near and dear to my heart. But first, let's start off with an introduction.
1:47.9	Tell everyone a little bit about who you are and what it is you do.
	...

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