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DISCRIMINATING ASSESSMENT. "Not all seemingly convincing examples of “intelligent” plant behavior pass our memory model test. In particular, orientation towards extrinsic cues such as light or gravity can be often described by models that only require perception of, and reaction to, synchronous cues and stimuli, without any reference to the past." An impressive and discriminating assessment. https://lnkd.in/dfsCv77 View in LinkedIn

HABITUATION. "In addition to Mimosa, habituation has been found in the carnivorous plant Drosera (sundew). When sundew tentacles are repeatedly stimulated they stop curling toward the stimulus. In addition to sundew, Applewhite cites an experiment by Darwin reportedly showing habituation in the passion flower (Passiflora gracilis)." https://lnkd.in/dsHa-Px View in LinkedIn

STRESS VS HABITUATION. "These are quite different from habituated responses like the one shown by the Mimosa plants in this study, where an input to the gene may produce a behavioral output that operates as a negative regulator of the gene, imposing an inhibitory epigenetic marking which, in turn, leads to a smaller behavioral response when recurring stimulations of the same kind activate that gene [i.e. memory of inhibitory modifications and recall." https://lnkd.in/dH68RKn View in LinkedIn

FROM RADIAL TO BILATERAL SYMMETRY. "The chordate sagittal plane is perpendicular to the sagittal plane primitive for the bilaterally symmetrical metazoans (Bilateria). The earliest metazoans, when symmetrical at all, were probably radial in symmetry. The axis of symmetry was vertical and the mouth, when present, opened either upward or downward." https://lnkd.in/dXzuUmP View in LinkedIn

DELAYED PHENOTYPIC RESPONSE. "It should be cautiously noted here that these stress-induced changes in plant response resulting from previous experiences involve a priming input that modifies chromatin patterns but does not lead to an immediate phenotypic response [i.e. memory with delayed output." https://lnkd.in/dH68RKn View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE considers the question of the evolution of bilateral symmetry in animals. In our universe, symmetry is very important. Symmetry breaking in physics is critical for many phenomena. Quite why mirror imagery, and with it, balance, is so important is an interesting question. In biology, symmetry is a subject that has occupied scientists for a long time. During this weekend, we will touch on some of the highlights of their thinking. View in LinkedIn

EPIGENETIC STRESSORS (CONT). "Induced plant defences, whereby an anti-herbivore or anti-pathogen response is primed by environmental cues that reliably indicate an increased probability of attacks prior to their occurrence; acquired tolerance to drought stress, whereby exposure of young plants to a mild salt treatment primes enhanced drought tolerance in adult plants." https://lnkd.in/dH68RKn View in LinkedIn

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