A new genome study has shed light on the early evolution of grasses, a plant family that includes many of the world's most important crops. Scientists from around the world, including Elizabeth "Toby" Kellogg, a former member of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, have created a detailed map of the genome of Streptochaeta spicata, a tropical grass that belongs to a lineage that split off early in the evolutionary history of grasses. Published in Nature Communications, the study provides a new perspective on the earliest development of grasses and offers a clearer look at the genome of their common ancestor. Grasses are the most economically important plant family globally, encompassing crops such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, barley, and sugarcane, as well as forage and bioenergy plants. Understanding their evolutionary history helps scientists trace how key traits developed and changed over time. This knowledge can guide future efforts to use the genetic diversity of crops and their wild relatives to improve food security and environmental sustainability. By comparing the Streptochaeta genome with those of other grasses, researchers have uncovered new evidence about ancient genetic events that shaped all living grasses, offering a clearer picture of how they evolved and diversified into the wide range of species we see today. "Grasses are a critical part of the global food supply, but the earliest parts of their evolutionary story have been difficult to piece together," said Kellogg. "All grasses show signs of a time when their total number of genes doubled. This duplication event still influences modern cereal crops. Because grasses share a common genetic system, discoveries in one crop often apply to others. This study highlights how the genome of the ancestral grass underpins the diversity of modern grasses." The study, led by Yun-Long Liu and published in Nature Communications (2026), explores key concepts in genetics, biological evolution, phylogeny, and genomes. It was conducted by researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and provides valuable insights into the genetic foundations of one of the world's most important plant families.