42nd Annual Telluride Mushroom Festival

Psilocybin is the major alkaloid found in most psychoactive mushrooms and holds great promise as a therapy for a range of mental illnesses. New genomic data has provided insights into the evolution of the genetic machinery that produces this powerful medicine, including patterns of horizontal gene transfer and convergence. Our lab has generated new genomes from over 100 species of psilocybin-producing mushrooms, most from type specimens of the core psilocybin-producing genus Psilocybe. Together with new data on the chemical composition of Psilocybe and the stability of metabolites in preserved specimens, I will present an overview of Psilocybe diversity, phylogeny, biogeography, chemistry, and evolution of the genes responsible for psilocybin biosynthesis. Hold onto your butts, it’s going to be a wild trip!