Scientists Clone Oldest Living Organism

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/07/2679005.htm

by dimas • 17 years ago

9 5 17 years ago

abc.net.au

Botanist Natalie Tapson says the plant is a genetic freak that can only reproduce by cloning itself.

She says it's under threat from the introduced phytophera fungus...

Sexual reproduction is a big sacrifice, instead of passing on 100% of genes, you only pass on 50% at a time. But on the upside, your offspring is more likely to survive new diseases.

gila• 17 years ago

heterogamy: best of both worlds?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterogamy

NathanKP• 17 years ago

I wonder why they had to clone it in the first place. Most plants can be "reproduced" by taking a cutting and dipping the end in rooting compound. Perhaps this "oldest living organism" isn't that sophisticated though.

Still, a cloned plant doesn't seem like much of an achievement compared with a cloned animal.

However, that said, if this plant has really survived for 43000 years then that is pretty impressive. It must have been doing an awfully fine job on its own. That makes human efforts seem a little puny in comparison.

yannis• 17 years ago

The actual plant lives approximately 300 years, however all copies are identical hence all the wild plants stemming from this parent are considered as one living organism.

Another interesting plant is Welwitschia that can be found in Namimbia and Angola. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welwitschia).

Although under threat of extinction the plants living in Angola are better protected than the plants in Namibia, owing to the relatively high concentration of landmines in Angola, which keep collectors away!

z8000• 17 years ago

You had me at "Tasmanian scientists"

Scientists Clone Oldest Living Organism

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