News in Brief Genetics

Source of coffee’s kick found in its genetic code

Caffeine genes evolved at least twice in plants

coffee plant

DOUBLE SHOT  Coffee doubled up on caffeine-making genes, possibly giving itself an evolutionary edge. Those genes evolved independently from similar ones found in tea and chocolate plants.  

Jose/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Coffee’s caffeine jolt evolved independently from that of tea and chocolate, a genetic analysis of the popular bean reveals.