Did you know that broccoli and cauliflower are the same species? No? What if I told you that list also includes kale, cabbage, kohlrabi, romanesco, and many more! These vegetables are cultivars of the species Brassica oleracea, which, through selective breeding and a few genetic hurdles, displays the amazing variety of features we see today. Here, I’ll explain what we know about the evolutionary history of B. oleracea, as well as outlining current study to understand the genetic forces behind its extraordinary variation.
Brilliant Brassica — Joshua Williams
Genetics Society UCL 