Ice Age plant brought back

[Gcroz]

http://news.yahoo.com/flowering-plant-revived-30-000-years-russian-permafrost-200137925--abc-news.html

Thought you all might find this interesting. Imagine the possibilities of reviving ancient orchid species! Might make some interesting hybrids...

 

[Ray]

Jurassic Park, here we come!

 

[Gcroz]

Jurassic Park, here we come!

I imagine giant sized slipper orchids from dinosaur times! Flowers big enough to be pollinated by all those giant bugs that used to roam the earth. Probably not a reality, but it would be very cool! Especially for hybridizing.

 

[Lanmark]

So cool! :drool: ...and spooky! :evil:

:wink:

 

[Ray]

Except that orchids - relatively speaking - just aren't all that "old", are they?

 

[FlowerFaerie]

It's beautiful! And amazing that it could still be alive & grow after all this time.

 

[Gcroz]

Except that orchids - relatively speaking - just aren't all that "old", are they?

I have no idea. But, if you believe in evolution as I do, there were at least probably "proto-orchids."

 

[Shiva]

Except that orchids - relatively speaking - just aren't all that "old", are they?

They have to be! It takes a lot of time and generations to develop into so many species and families spread out around the globe. Given the specialisation over time, I'd say their ancestors probably lived at the time of the Pangea breakup, some 200 million years ago. The characteristics that made orchids different from other plants had to develop before the continents got too far apart. The species we know today are probably up to a few million years old.

 

[nikv]

We're talking about a thirty-thousand year old species. Not one that is thirty million years old. Big difference.

 

[emydura]

This isn't a species that has gone instinct has it? You can still find this species today. In evolutionary time, 30,000 years ago is still recent.

 

[Gcroz]

Well boo to both of you. I thought the concept was fun, and that it might provide some enjoyment imagining the possibilities. But yes, it is just a boring old flower and not very interesting.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

 

[nikv]

Gcroz, I wasn't dismissing the beautiful flower nor the scientific achievement that brought it about. Merely pointing out that all of the diverse flora found in the world of orchids didn't evolve in thirty-thousand years. That's far too short a time for the imense diversity to occur. Please don't get me wrong. I think it is amazing! And who knows what other beauties scientists will be able to resurrect?

 

[Gcroz]

I appreciate your comment and no explanation is necessary. My intentions of posting were not to indicate that orchids evolved in 30,000 years, but to note an achievement which "could" bring about new achievements in botany. My original post indicated the concept of "imagination" as to what this might herald for the future, and that direction was where I'd hoped this thread would go.

Imagination, gentleness, and enthusiasm are rare enough traits in this world. To be constantly bombarded with sterile reality, while in the imaginary world of the internet no less, grows tiresome to me. Particularly when the intent was to provoke imagination.

I do apologize for the directness of my response and for any offense felt by the readers.

 

[SlipperKing]

I found it interesting George.

 

[emydura]

Yes, I agree with NIKV. My comment wasn't meant to be dismissive of this finding. This is a huge story and I am glad you brought it to our attention. Like you, I imagine what possibilities could occur down the track. Apparently there were many different types of seed found in these squirrel nests, so hopefully they can bring back things that are even more exciting. Plants that may no longer be with us maybe.

They have always talked about recreating woolly mammoths from frozen preserved specimens in the permafrost. Now that would be exciting.

 

[Gcroz]

They have always talked about recreating woolly mammoths from frozen preserved specimens in the permafrost. Now that would be exciting.

Oh man!!! I agree with you there. How cool would it be to see mammoths roaming the country again (as if people would allow that )!

On a related note... have fossil orchids, or "proto-orachids, ever been found? Not that fossils would allow for "resurrection" but just curious if they have ever been found.

 

[SlipperFan]

This story was on NPR today -- I was listening to it as I was cleaning and prepping my orchids for the show this weekend. It would have been fun if it were an orchid!

 

[gonewild]

As I recall there has been one fossil orchid found. maybe it was only fossil pollen, I can't remember but it was described as a member of the orchid family.

 

[SlipperFan]

As I recall there has been one fossil orchid found. maybe it was only fossil pollen, I can't remember but it was described as a member of the orchid family.

I thought it was a bee with orchid pollen sacs still on it.

 

[gonewild]

I thought it was a bee with orchid pollen sacs still on it.

Yes that was it!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/08/070829-orchid-fossil.html

There is actually one more fossil orchid of actual flower parts that is in a private collection.