Researchers have finally discovered the precise pathogen that caused the Great Famine. Why it matters:
The study is the first time that the genetics of a plant pathogen have been analyzed by extracting DNA from dried plant samples, opening up the possibility that researchers can study other plant diseases based on the historical collections of botanical gardens and herbaria around the world. Better understanding the evolution of plant diseases over time, the team says, could be instrumental in figuring out ways to breed more robust plant varieties that are resistant to the pathogens that infect plants today.
(Photo of the Dublin memorial to the Irish Potato Famine by Tim Sackton)
The Dish 