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Author Topic: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years  (Read 1500 times)

mark smyth

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Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« on: February 21, 2012, 02:30:09 PM »
Silene seeds grow after being frozen for 30,000 years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17100574
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Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

David Pilling

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2012, 03:39:14 PM »
I was reading Norman Deno's seed propagation book yesterday, and noted "all tales of seeds being germinated after 100's of years have been proved false" - in this case it appears the seeds were not viable but they performed something like tissue culture on the remnants of the fruit.

Interesting stuff anyway.

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David Pilling at the seaside in North West England.

ronm

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2012, 03:44:14 PM »
Thank goodness for that. I thought a new stratification regime was being proposed! ;) ;)
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johnw

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2012, 05:41:23 PM »
Quote from: mark smyth on February 21, 2012, 02:30:09 PM
Silene seeds grow after being frozen for 30,000 years
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17100574

Lesley - Just think about that for a moment. How many more Galanthus species might there be lurking in the permafrost?  Late spring and summer flowers, we could post pictures 12 months a year from this hemisphaere alone. And with your hemisphaere double that.

johnw ;)
« Last Edit: February 21, 2012, 09:34:22 PM by johnw »
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John in coastal Nova Scotia

Anthony Darby

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2012, 07:24:13 PM »
Chiltern seeds sell lotus seeds (Nelumbo nucifera 'Ohga Hasu') from plants grown from seeds found in ancient mud near Tokyo, but I think they were only 2000 years old?
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Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
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ronm

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2012, 08:38:14 PM »
Do they germinate Anthony?
Please no ancient mud (d ) jokes ;D
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Anthony Darby

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2012, 08:52:20 PM »
The seeds sold are several generations from the originals. I have germinated them in a waterlogged pot in the classroom.
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Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
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ronm

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2012, 08:55:52 PM »
So Norman Denos claims are incorrect? ??? ???
I hope so as I'd like to believe that the seed could survive the ages and enable us to 'glimpse the past'. :o :o
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Anthony Darby

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2012, 09:04:51 PM »
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Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

ronm

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2012, 09:08:25 PM »
A perfect response Anthony. Two years ago I had the perfect environment for such a plant. Now I'm not so sure, but I'm going to try. Thank you for the information :) :) :)
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Anthony Darby

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2012, 11:37:17 PM »
The lotus seeds had survived in anaerobic mud. Seeds need three things to germinate: moisture, a suitable temperature and oxygen. They don't need light, tiger or otherwise.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2012, 02:34:22 AM by Anthony Darby »
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Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
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ronm

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2012, 08:49:27 AM »
ohhhh, ::) ::) ;D
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Anthony Darby

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2012, 09:23:59 AM »
I think that's neat!
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Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Lesley Cox

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2012, 07:31:07 PM »
Quote from: johnw on February 21, 2012, 05:41:23 PM
Quote from: mark smyth on February 21, 2012, 02:30:09 PM
Silene seeds grow after being frozen for 30,000 years
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17100574

Lesley - Just think about that for a moment. How many more Galanthus species might there be lurking in the permafrost?  Late spring and summer flowers, we could post pictures 12 months a year from this hemisphaere alone. And with your hemisphaere double that.

johnw ;)

You're really trying to upset me aren't you? Maybe send me right over the edge into dementia! :o

Before I read that the Silene still grows in Siberia,, and assuming it was extinct many thousands of years ago, I was wondering when it would reach the seedlists. Maybe soon. ;D
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Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

ronm

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Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2012, 08:16:19 PM »
"and the cat crept in" Anthony, and I don't think you would be too happy about that! ;D ;D ;D
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