clhs sciblog

This article is about the potato famine.  In the mid-1800s the potato famine infected most of Europe but primarily Ireland. This infection destroyed the potato crop of Europe. It now threatens the tomato and potato crops of the U.S. This organism has a very large genome size and extrodinary structure. This allows the rapid evolution to the genes involved with plant infection. Researchers now think that they may now a way to control this pathogen. Senior author Chad Nusbaum said,”We now have a comprehensive view of its genome, revealing the unusual properties that drive its remarkable adaptability. Hopefully, this knowledge can foster novel approaches to diagnose and respond to outbreaks.”(the article). Scientists now know that this infection is part of the oomycetes or water molds. Which is closely related to the malaria parasite and not fungi. To read more click here.

Any information researchers get on this infection of the plants the better. Scientist can figure out how this pathogen can addapt and evolve and eventually infect plants that were once immune to it. Hopefully one day scientist will find a way to completely stop the parisite and keep our plants free of infection. But for now all they can do is figure out how it works and addapts and controlit. And they believe that they do understand the parisite and can control it. It is extremely important to destroy a parasite that can completely decimate entire fields in just a few days.