Genetic and biochemical studies have greatly advanced our understanding of the biology of seeds in recent years. Another area of study, which could accelerate contemporary seed biology research, is phylogenomics that integrates the wealth of genome sequence data with evolutionary biology. The recent phylogenomic study of the DELAY OF GERMINATION1 family genes exemplifies how the molecular evolution of seed genes can be traced back through early diverging plants and what implications can be obtained from the analysis of seed gene diversification at ancient times. The identification of possible ancestors of seed genes in non-seed plants could illuminate the ancient roots of the molecular mechanisms driving seed maturation programmes. It is possible that the origins of molecular mechanisms associated with the induction of seed storage proteins and desiccation tolerance proteins date back to the time of, or even prior to, early diverging land plants. Abscisic acid-dependent growth arrest or dormancy mechanisms might date back to red algae, one of the oldest algal groups. Thus, understanding algal cell biology will also be an integral part of future seed biology research. Unravelling key events associated with the evolution of seed- and non-seed plants will not only advance basic research but could also contribute to applied aspects of seed science, potentially leading to technology development for agriculture.

近年来，遗传和生化研究极大地促进了我们对种子生物学的理解。另一个可以加速当代种子生物学研究的研究领域是系统基因组学，它将丰富的基因组序列数据与进化生物学相结合。萌发延迟的最新系统发育学研究1家族基因举例说明了种子基因的分子进化是如何通过早期分化的植物来追溯的，以及从古代种子基因多样化的分析中可以获得什么启示。鉴定非种子植物种子基因的可能祖先可以阐明驱动种子成熟程序的分子机制的古老根源。与种子贮藏蛋白和耐干燥蛋白的诱导相关的分子机制的起源可能可以追溯到早期陆生植物分化的时代，甚至更早。脱落酸依赖性生长停滞或休眠机制可能可以追溯到红藻，这是最古老的藻类之一。因此，了解藻类细胞生物学也将是未来种子生物学研究的一个组成部分。