Success for the Darwin Tree of Life Project: our first genome of a fungus is live! 🍄🌱🧬

If you go down to the woods today, you are in for a big surprise! 🏆🎉 The first genome has been collected and it is none other than the Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus.  This fungus is one of the most unusual located in woods throughout the UK.  It’s bright orange and yellow colouring is one of the most eye-catching, making its home on many of our native broadleaved species, including oak, sweet chestnut and ash!

🍄🌱🧬 The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has been instrumental in helping deliver this genome.  Read more about the fascinating history and work here 🍄🌱🧬