Learn English: Mutant Gene Causes Wild Ginger's Foul Odor (normal)

Certain wild ginger plants produce a pungent smell due to a mutated gene affecting an enzyme.

This enzyme, usually involved in preventing bad breath, creates dimethyl disulfide in these plants.

Researchers identified this gene by comparing different wild ginger species and their chemical outputs.

The mutation causing this smell involves only a few amino acid changes, demonstrating the power of small genetic shifts.