Overview

• The pangenome study, published May 28, 2025, mapped almost 200 Cannabis sativa genomes and discovered genetic variation up to twenty times greater than in humans.
• Haplotype-resolved assemblies exposed structural genomic variations and mobile DNA elements that govern cannabinoid biosynthesis, including pathways for rare compounds like THCV.
• The research team generated the first detailed sequence of the cannabis Y chromosome, revealing male-specific traits that could diversify breeding beyond feminized lines.
• Comparative analysis of European and Asian wild cannabis relatives identified reservoirs of genes for stress tolerance and disease resistance to enhance hemp resilience.
• Researchers say the pangenome resource will accelerate development of medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp by guiding precision breeding and biotechnological innovation.