Researchers at Ohio State University discovered new psilocybin gene clusters in the genomes of 3 hallucinogenic mushrooms, suggesting horizontal gene transfer between fungal lineages. They hypothesize that being able to synthesize psilocybin may have “provided a fitness advantage in the dung and late wood-decay fungal niches.” The new genomes can be used as models in neurochemical ecology.
Study Shows Making Psilocybin Gives an Evolutionary Advantage To Mushrooms
Researchers find gene clusters that suggest making psilocybin gave mushroom a fitness advantage in natural selection.