George Mason scientist identifies 1,000-year-old seedling linked to biblical myrrh

Katarina Benson — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:50:37 +0000

George Mason scientist identifies 1,000-year-old seedling linked to biblical myrrh Katarina Benson Wed, 01/08/2025 - 14:50

��AV researcher Andrea Weeks played a key role in identifying an ancient seedling linked to the biblical myrrh. The seed, a yellow and fragrant resin from the Commiphora tree, was discovered in the Judean desert and revived by a team of researchers.

The ancient seedling. Photo provided.

Weeks was invited to join the project, led by Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, because of her expertise in the evolutionary biology of Commiphora. Her extensive DNA sequence database played an instrumental role in analyzing the genetic makeup of the ancient specimen. Morgan Gostel, Weeks’ former PhD student and current research botanist at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, also played a critical role in this research.

While the team confirmed the seedling’s genus, they have yet to pinpoint its precise species. “Its exact species remains unclear, highlighting the need for further biodiversity research. No lab has yet tested every species of Commiphora,” said Weeks, who is an associate professor in the Department of Biology in the College of Science and the director of George Mason’s Ted R. Bradley Herbarium.

One of the most puzzling aspects of the discovery is the seed’s location. Found in a Levantine cave, the seed had been preserved for centuries in an area far outside the modern range of Commiphora.

Andrea Weeks. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“Radiocarbon dating reveals that this seed formed long after biblical times, but that doesn’t explain how or why it ended up in a cave in the Judean desert 800 to 1,000 years ago,” said Weeks.

Funding from previous grants awarded to Weeks by the National Science Foundation (NSF) helped lay the groundwork for her involvement and impact in this discovery of the ancient seed, which the researchers selected to call “Sheba.” “The use of NSF-funded data in identifying Sheba shows how foundational research can have lasting, unexpected benefits,” she said.

The study’s findings could significantly influence future research on biodiversity by enhancing our understanding of historical flora and their evolution within current ecosystems.

The interdisciplinary nature of the research, combining archaeology, ethnobotany, chemistry, and plant taxonomy, contributed to the team’s success. Moving forward, Weeks and her lab plan to deepen their exploration of Commiphora diversity. “Like most scientific inquiries, this project leaves us with more questions than answers,” Weeks said. “It sheds light on the complexity of biodiversity and also serves as a reminder of life’s interconnectedness across time.”

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Graduate student uncovers possible solution to save Virginia plant species

Colleen Rich — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:29:42 +0000

Graduate student uncovers possible solution to save Virginia plant species Colleen Rich Mon, 06/24/2024 - 11:29

An endangered perennial plant native to south-central United States now has a fighting chance thanks to the efforts of ��AV master’s student Emily Poindexter.

Emily Poindexter. Photo provided

Poindexter, who is pursuing a master’s in environmental science and policy, received funding from the Virginia Native Plant Society to support her study of Ozark Milkvetch, a small, perennial plant native to south-central United States, as well as parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. While widely distributed in the south-central region, this species only grows on shale barrens in the mid-Atlantic, particularly in Virginia where it is currently classified as critically imperiled, meaning at risk of extinction.

“Everything has a cascading effect,” Poindexter said. “The protection of a single plant species can lead to conservation of its specific ecosystem and habitat. That habitat may be home to an entire community of organisms who now also benefit from that protection.”

Ozark Milkvetch was believed to be extinct in Virginia until George Mason researcher Andrea Weeks and a team of students, faculty, and alumni found a population on Short Mountain in Shenandoah County in 2022.

Poindexter works alongside Weeks, an associate professor in the Department of Biology and director of Ted R. Bradley Herbarium, who specializes in the systematics, historical biogeography, and evolution of flowering plants. Weeks is supervising Poindexter in the comparison of DNA sequence data from the two varieties of Ozark Milkvetch to determine its taxonomy, diversity, and evolutionary history.

Poindexter said that she’s hypothesizing the Ozark Milkvetch populations in the mid-Atlantic have evolved independently from those in the south-central United States. This study is the first to use comparative genetics methods to test whether this is the case. In doing so, Poindexter will be able to update the species’ conservation status and guide future conservation strategies.

A George Mason team discovered a population of Ozark Milkvetch in 2022. Photo by Andrea Weeks

Poindexter also works at the U.S. National Herbarium at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, where her existing love for botany has evolved into an interest in systematics—the study of species characteristics and how they relate to other species as it relates to conservation. This added interest inspired Poindexter’s decision to pursue a master’s degree to move her career forward and work on a conservation and systematics research project.

As part of her current study, Poindexter traveled to the south-central United States to seek out populations of Ozark Milkvetch and compare their genetics with those that grow locally in Virginia. Acting as a detective, she used entries from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database and posts from the citizen science app, iNaturalist, to locate the species in real-time and analyze historical data to show where this species may have previously flourished but no longer exists.

“We know the behaviors of human beings affects the ecology of the planet, and we would really like to understand how to mitigate that impact,” said Weeks of the project. “But the fact is, we don’t fully understand how our ecosystems work. We need to continue learning about these systems individually so we can put the pieces back together.”

Poindexter also hopes her work inspire other students to participate in research. “I think students often feel they don’t have enough background or expertise to participate in research. However, I’m really a big proponent for just trying things and seeing where it gets you,” she said. “Sometimes things just align, they work out, and you end up in a better place than you ever expected—at least that was the case for me. Throw your hat in the ring and learn as you go. Find a mentor you can trust, offer them an idea or even just your time, and then be open to the opportunities that follow.”

All analytical work for the Ozark Milkvetch will be complete by Summer 2025, and Poindexter anticipates graduating in the following academic year.

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George Mason scientist identifies 1,000-year-old seedling linked to biblical myrrh

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