Is Circular DNA Transforming Plant Community Resilience to Environmental Stress?

Genes define the unique traits of species. The concept that these genes typically do not flow between species of higher organisms is a foundational principle in genetics. I propose to challenge it by introducing the concept of communal gene streams (CGS), wherein genes circulate among plant species within a community. These genes, carried by circular DNA vehicles, can transiently benefit host plants, fostering a collective response to environmental challenges. My project aims to test this hypothesis through proof-of-concept experiments detecting circular DNA movement between plant species bridged by parasitic plants and its usage by recipient species. If successful, it will pioneer a new framework for studying lateral gene transfer (LGT) in higher organisms and strategies for fortifying plant community resilience against climate change pressures.