Question

How could phylogenies be used to help researchers search more efficiently for novel medicines derived from seed plants?

Short answer

Phylogenies indicate monophyletic groups, and identifying the clades with already known medicinal plants would facilitate further research. The researchers could easily identify and investigate other plant species present in that monophyletic group; instead of investigating a random seed plant species.

Step-by-step solution

Seed plants

Seed plants are the most evolved group of the Kingdom Plantae, and it comprises two groups; angiosperms and gymnosperms. The angiosperms are plants that produce seeds protected within the pulpy ovary, while the seeds are naked and unprotected in the case of gymnosperms.

Medicinal importance of seed plants

The seed plants are known for the production of several usable products. The group of seed plants is highly diverse, and research has revealed that some contain medicinally important chemicals. These chemicals are widely used for treating different diseases and add to the importance of seed plants.

This discovery opened new scope for research in plants, and researchers are keen to investigate the medicinal aspects of seed plants.

Importance of studying seed plant phylogeny

Phylogeny of seed plants comprises several monophyletic groups, and its study can facilitate medicinal plant research.The phylogeny will reveal the clades containing seed plants in which medicinal compounds had been identified.

Studying those clades will reveal other plant members closely associated with the already discovered seed plant. In this way, researchers could focus their study of medicinal plants in these clade members rather than experimenting with random seed plants among a diversity of more than 2.5 lac extant seed plants.