The Sylene stenophylla in bloom (Pic: Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
This is a story about an incredible flowering plant whose seed had been ‘resurrected’ 30,000 years after, when the same was found by Russian researchers investigating dozens of fossil burrows hidden in ice deposits on the right bank of the lower Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia.
According to the researchers, the burrows were located 125ft (38m) below the permafrost containing bones of large mammals, such as mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, bison, horse and deer. Its location was a natural freezing chamber that made it fully isolated from the surface.
“The squirrels dug the frozen ground to build their burrows, which are about the size of a soccer ball, putting in hay first and then animal fur for a perfect storage chamber,” said Stanislav Gubin, one of the authors of the study, who spent years rummaging through the area for squirrel burrows. “It’s a natural cryobank.”
After a trail-blazing experiment, the scientists were able to re-grow the seed which came out to be the Sylene stenophylla and which later produce a beautiful white flower and more seeds to boot.
This discovery and study were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the US.
“We consider it essential to continue permafrost studies in search of an ancient genetic pool, that of pre-existing life, which hypothetically has long since vanished from the earth’s surface,” the scientists said in the article.
Svetlana Yashina of the Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy Of Sciences, who led the regeneration effort, said the revived plant looked very similar to its modern version, which still grows in the same area in northeastern Siberia.
Today is the Sylene stenophylla. Will tomorrow be the mammoth?
(Note: For Quierosaber’s 1000th blog, he is gifting himself with this beautiful ‘resurrected’ flower from Sylene stenophylla.)
A very interesting story about research that has barely scratched the surface of potential possibilities.Studying and comparing ancient genes with modern genes of similar creatures to see how they have changed over the years.This could be of much benefit in so many ways.The last sentence “Will tomorrow be the mammoth” got my imagination in motion.Just imagine if an ancient frozen man and woman were found,and they were able to resurrect the sperm cells and egg cells.I guess that they would be able to grow a test tube baby or possibly impregnate a modern woman with the ancient sperm.This would be fascinating,provided it doesn’t turn into Nazi like experiments.By the way….there is a guy on Ebay who sells mammoth hair.
Fascinating indeed if and when it happens! Don’t know. This world is full of rascals. He may be selling a wild boar’s hair.
It very well could be the hair of who knows what,,,,either way I not that interested in making a purchase.Here’s a link that you may find interesting.Mammoth steak?
http://www.nature-source.com/mammothhair.htm
How about that! Interesting! By the way, have you eaten corned elephant? Mammoth steak? Would love to try!
Corned elephant???? Never heard of it.But with March 17 (Saint Patricks Day) approaching….all the stores will be selling corned beef and if you stop in at the local pub,you will get the opportunity to drink a mug of green beer.It’s an Irish holiday….those micks really know how to honor a saint,don’t they? LOL!. Since my ancestral blood is composed of English,Irish ,Italian,Lithuanian,and a possible hint of Russian….I get to celebrate a lot of off the wall holidays.
Below is a recipe for elephant soup.Rose makes it all the time. (WINK)
One common African dish is Elephant Soup. Try this elephant meat recipe at home!
• one-half pound of elephant meat
• three cups of beef broth
• one onion
• one cup hazelnuts
• one cup boiled peas
• one small green onion
• one cup of shitake mushrooms
• two tablespoons of lard
• salt and black pepper (to taste)
• one-half cup of milk
Combine meat with other ingredients and simmer for 1 hour.
I did not say anything about the micks, you said it. LOL! No, thanks on this African dish. Am getting a heartburn already reading it. Relative to the corned elephant, this is true. When I was in Zamboanga working for a tuna canning plant, we used to export the product to South Africa using their label. So, in short we were their packers. When our boss, a German-American guy, visited SA, he came back bringing a ‘souvenir’ of canned elephant which he gave me. I opened it up and, boy, was it ugly! All I was seeing was a gelatinous mass. Can’t help thinking it could have been the trunk! Yak!
The Irish don’t mind if it is being said in jest.They’re a hearty bunch of lunkheads….I’m happy to have some of their blood running in my veins.My favorite portrayal of an Irishman is “Stephen The Mad Irishman” in the movie Braveheart….although the actor,David O’hara is Scottish.I guess if I was ever going to have elephant meat,I’d prefer a fresh steak….not something in a can.That doesn’t sound good.I just saw a YouTube short flick about a German company producing cheeseburger sandwiches in a can.You get the bun,the burger and all the fixings.I guess that would be a good choice for those who go backpacking in remote areas and can only carry food that requires no refrigeration.Below is a short movie from Youtube…hope you like it.
Thanks for the short movies, Jeff. It made my day! Like that one where the guy made chewing gum out of condom. LOL!