Genetic material from other species can accelerate adaptation to new environments

Nature · Published 1 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A review of genomic data found that introgression—the movement of genes between different species—serves as a significant source of genetic diversity. While hybrid offspring are often less fit, the researchers highlight how these foreign alleles can actually provide the raw material necessary for animals and plants to adapt to new ecological niches.

This process is especially impactful when a population faces sudden environmental shifts or expands into unfamiliar territories. By introducing novel genetic variants, introgression allows species to find new fitness peaks more rapidly than they might through internal mutations alone.

The review synthesizes evidence from various studies across the plant and animal kingdoms. However, because it is a broad overview of existing literature rather than a single controlled experiment, it summarizes diverse findings rather than providing a specific new data point.

Why it matters: Borrowing DNA from other species can be a shortcut for survival when nature changes rapidly.

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