A few years back I read of a scientist who successfully revived ancient bacteria, found in the gut of a honeybee, encased in amber, 100 million yrs old. Now I see someone has found a piece of amber containing an intact seed-is it possible that this couls sprout? The recoerd I believe is for 10,000 yr. old lotus seeds (found in a lake in China), which sprouted when planted. It would be great to have the giant club mosses from the Jurassic-is this possibel?
I guess you must be one of those people who thinks “Jurassic Park” was just a movie.
Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley
Well actually the seed of that lotus was found in a tomb (IIRC), and was only about 2,000 years old. Still a very long time for a seed to remain viable. I dont think any seeds or spores would be viable over 2,000 years though (I may be wrong). Spores may be different, but i’ve never heard of scientists finding viable giant club moss spores (most spores that are found are fossilized). The viability of most seeds are days to several years (some weedy grasses have been known to have viable seed 10 years after it was ripened).
Also, that bacteria from the bee’s stomach I hear had formed into a spore (which allows it to survive long times when a suitable environment isnt available). (I may be wrong, someone correct me if so).
I myself am an incorrigible conlang slut. I love oral lex.
one phenomenon of construction occurs when excavation dirt is piled high along new structures.
If the dirt is undisturbed into the growing season ,there will be crabgrass and other weed types growing which hadn’t been in that immediate area before.
Weed seed can survive forever in deep undisturbed earth but become reactivated when brought to the surface and deposited in good growing conditions.
Is there any chance that ancient bacteria, if revived in the lab, could be a threat to the human species? I’m thinking about the Russians, drilling into Lake Vostok in Antarctica (water has been there for >10,000 years. Is it possible that ancient bacteris could find humans an inviting host?