Complex Numbers

Barley There

It's okay, folks. No need to worry about global warming; we've got the important bit covered:

    Century-old experiment secures beer and whiskey’s future  
Genetic insights could help grains endure climate change

Thanks to an experiment started before the Great Depression, researchers have pinpointed the genes behind the remarkable adaptability of barley, a key ingredient in beer and whiskey. These insights could ensure the crop’s continued survival amidst rapid climate change.

Whew!

Coffee and chocolate future still uncertain, but those are less important.

Grown everywhere from Asia and Egypt to Norway and the Andes mountains of South America, barley is one of the world’s most important cereal crops and has been for at least 12,000 years. As it has spread across the globe, random changes to its DNA allowed it to survive in each new location.

I know it's necessary to summarize for an article, but "random changes" are only one component of adaptability.

The article talks about the experiment promised in the headline, and I won't quote it; I have little to say about the details except that it seems legitimate to me.

Then, towards the end:

Using modern technology like genome engineering and CRISPR, researchers could try to engineer other crops that flower at specific, more advantageous times.

And approximately 15 seconds later, someone's going to screech about genetically engineered crops.

But the really important quote, they saved for the end:

“Barley’s ability to adapt has served as a cornerstone to the development of civilization. Understanding it is important not just to keep making alcoholic beverages, but also for our ability to develop the crops of the future and enhance their ability to adapt as the world changes,” Koenig said.

Or, to put it in layman's terms: Beer. Is there anything it can't do?