SharePrehistoric flower from the permafrost blooms again
A team of scientists has reportedly resurrected seeds of a 30 000-years-old variety of Silene stenophylla.
A team of scientists has reportedly resurrected seeds of a 30 000-years-old variety of Silene stenophylla.
The seeds were buried by squirrels and preserved in the permafrost on the banks of the lower Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia, 20-40 m below the current surface of the tundra.
Researchers had previously unsuccessfully attempted to grow seeds from these ancient burrows. This time, the sprouting process was supported by samples of placental tissue from S. stenophylla fruits and produced plants considered to be the oldest living multi-cellular organisms on Earth, which blossomed to produce fertile seeds that were in turn grown into a second generation of fertile plants.
Researchers believe that other prehistoric plant species could be brought to life.
Nature, February 23, 2012
The seeds were buried by squirrels and preserved in the permafrost on the banks of the lower Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia, 20-40 m below the current surface of the tundra.
Researchers had previously unsuccessfully attempted to grow seeds from these ancient burrows. This time, the sprouting process was supported by samples of placental tissue from S. stenophylla fruits and produced plants considered to be the oldest living multi-cellular organisms on Earth, which blossomed to produce fertile seeds that were in turn grown into a second generation of fertile plants.
Researchers believe that other prehistoric plant species could be brought to life.
Nature, February 23, 2012