Chestnut Chat: Does hybridization help? Testing for an adaptive role of hybridization and introgression in Texas sunflowers
Join us on Friday, August 21, 2026, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Eastern), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat webinar.
Species have offspring with others of their same kind, except when they don’t. This process called hybridization was long thought to be an evolutionary mistake and largely irrelevant, but modern work has shown that it is both common and important.
In this talk, Dr. Owens will review how we define species, what happens when species mix together, and how modern genomics lets us probe these questions. In the second half of the talk, Dr. Owens will explore the case of Helianthus annuus texanus, the Texas Common Sunflower, which was thought to be a hybrid of two species. He will show the results of an experiment to recreate the species and what happens in the genome when hybrids are allowed to evolve in the wild.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE (via Zoom Webinar)
Pre-registration is required to attend this event. Pre-register here. After registering, you will receive an email with a unique URL link to join the event. You can also add the event to your calendar from the webinar registration approval page. The meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow an audio and video test.
Presenter
Photo credit: Dylan Burge
Dr. Gregory Owens
Associate professor of Biology at the University of Victoria
