Different mushrooms learned the same psychedelic trick
17 hours ago
- #convergent-evolution
- #psilocybin-research
- #magic-mushrooms
- Magic mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in traditional ceremonies and recreationally.
- A new study reveals that mushrooms evolved the ability to produce psilocybin, a psychoactive substance, twice through convergent evolution.
- Psilocybin, converted to psilocin in the body, was classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the US in 1970 and a Class A drug in the UK in 1971, halting research for decades.
- Recent clinical trials show psilocybin's potential to reduce depression, suicidal thoughts, and chronic anxiety, renewing interest in its medical applications.
- Researchers discovered two different enzymatic pathways mushrooms use to produce psilocybin, offering new methods for sustainable lab production.
- Convergent evolution in mushrooms is observed for the first time, with species like Inocybe corydalina and Psilocybe evolving independently to produce psilocybin.
- Psilocybin may serve as a deterrent to predators, similar to caffeine's role as a natural pesticide in plants.
- Current synthetic psilocybin production methods are fast but generate hazardous waste and are limited in scale.
- A 2025 study introduced a more sustainable method using fungal enzymes to catalyze psilocybin production, enabling larger-scale and reusable processes.
- Enzymatic production is more sustainable, operating under mild conditions, reducing energy use, waste, and environmental impact.