Genetics are the bread and butter of the cannabis business and everyone wants to keep their recipe a secret. All of the information behind a strains history, origination, characteristics and cannabinoids are located within the plants genes. The idea of the genetics in a cannabis plant are very similar to our own; they have a biological sequence used to identify them, aka DNA.

We’ll dive more into genetics in our blog posts later, but for now…

Cannabis Genetics 101:

• Lineage: a sequence of species each of which is considered to have evolved from its predecessor.
• Strain: a unique genetic variety of Cannabis
• Indica: Indica varieties have a short, bushy stature and large, thick leaves. Indica buds are usually dense and compact and are generally recognized for their calming and sedative effects.
• Sativa: Sativa varieties are tall and skinny in stature with long, thin leaves. Sativa buds are usually fluffy and long and are generally recognized for their energetic and uplifting effects.
• Genotype: the genotype includes all variations of a species within a genetic code
• Phenotype: physical expression of the genotype
• Clone: cutting taken from a female plant to replicate it
• Hermaphrodite: asingle plant that has both male & female parts
• Autoflower: automatically switches from the vegetative to flowering stage depending on age
• Feminized: bred specifically to produce female plants
• Trichome: Tiny, hair-like resin glands that cover the cannabis epidermis and flower. The trichomes contain terpenes and cannabinoids that influence the potency, flavors and effect of the plant.

Cut The BS – Show Me The Strain Fax!

There’s a shameful of secrecy surrounding genetics in the cannabis industry. Producers and cultivators spend countless amounts of time hiding proper strain information or lineage with the intention to keep the true genetics secret. The Strain Fax was created to bust down that barrier and be your eyes on the inside. As your industry resource for all things cannabis education & cultivation, our mission is to provide you with the inside scoop on the latest products and the companies that produce them. Check out the Strain Directory to learn more about different strains, products and genetics.