What’s New About How Plants Work? – “Tasty Tidbits” From 2014 (Twelfth Course)

Surprises: From Genes To Xmas Trees

The month of December 2014 featured some amazing discoveries in plant-related science.

From a new way to look at plant genomes and plant cells to “shape-shifting” plants to surprising info regarding organic farms and, yes, even Christmas trees.

Prepare to be (at least mildly) astonished.

  • “A groundbreaking paper from a team of Florida State University biologists could lead to a better understanding of how plants could adapt to and survive environmental swings such as droughts or floods.”
    See a surprising new way of looking at DNA at: Maize analysis yields whole new world of genetic science.
  • “…changing conditions can prompt immediate shifts in organisms’ physical traits — or what researchers call phenotypic plasticity, which allows for different looking organisms without changing their genetic code.“
    Learn how this may help save some plants in the future at: Shape-shifting may help some species cope with climate change.
  • “…deep thinking on how the eukaryotic cell came to be is astonishingly scant. Now, however, a bold new idea of how the eukaryotic cell and, by extension, all complex life came to be is giving scientists an opportunity to re-examine some of biology’s key dogma.“
    Read about this new way of thinking at: New theory suggests alternate path led to rise of the eukaryotic cell.
  • There’s is no way that organic farms can produce the same yields as conventional farms. Right?
    Surprise! Think again at: Can organic crops compete with industrial agriculture?
  • “Each Christmas, families gather around evergreens, real or fake, to celebrate the season. But what holiday revellers may not realise is just how incredible these spruce, fir and pines can be.“
    Discover some Xmas tree “secrets” at: Five things you didn’t know about Christmas trees.

    • And for your final “dessert” from 2014: Filamentous Fungal Freeways

    Hope you enjoyed this sampling of 2014 plant news “treats”.

    Thanks for visiting…and come again soon.

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