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PUZZLING RANGE. "Genome sizes vary more than 2,300-fold among angiosperms, from that of Paris japonica (2n = 12, 1C = ~149 Gbp) to that of carnivorous Genlisea margaretae (2n = ~40, 1C = ~63 Mbp). The biological significance of this massive variation is puzzling." https://lnkd.in/e4xhW7h View in LinkedIn

NATURAL SELECTION OF CODE. "The main reason for the difficulties in stepping from the old molecular biology concepts to current knowledge about the dynamics of genome biology is that the genetic code as a natural language was explained by inherent physical and chemical properties of matter. The meaning (semantics) of the information stored in the genetic code was assumed to be the result of selection of a varying molecular syntax." https://lnkd.in/eUYvi8e View in LinkedIn

ADAPTED DEFENSE MOLECULES. "Carnivorous sundew plants catch and digest insect prey for their own nutrition. The sundew species Drosera capensis shows a pronounced leaf bending reaction upon prey capture in order to form an ‘outer stomach’. This formation is triggered by jasmonates, phytohormones typically involved in defence reactions against herbivory and wounding." https://lnkd.in/eRtdmBc View in LinkedIn

SO ENDS this two weekend section on carnivorous plants. The discovery of the curious characteristics of these plants has probably not been exhausted. Action potentials, unusual genetics, acute sensing and movement, the carnivorous lifestyle with digestive enzymes, natural antibiotics, a complex microbiome, special slippery slopes to trap prey, and ultrasound protection may be the tip of the iceberg. View in LinkedIn

LARGE TRANSCRIPTOME CHANGES. "We show that the transcriptomic landscape of the Dionaea trap is dramatically shifted toward signal transduction and nutrient transport upon insect feeding, with touch hormone signaling and protein secretion prevailing. At the same time, a massive induction of general defense responses is accompanied by the repression of cell death–related genes/processes." https://lnkd.in/eMqKE3X View in LinkedIn

NATURAL ANTIBIOTIC. "Antimicrobial Activity of the Carnivorous Plant Dionaea muscipula Against Food-Related Pathogenic and Putrefactive Bacteria. The UV, MS, and NMR analyses revealed that the antibacterial compound was plumbagin." https://lnkd.in/e9VTVUF View in LinkedIn

EXAPTATION. "Venus flytrap carnivorous lifestyle builds on herbivore defense strategies. We hypothesize that the carnivory syndrome of Dionaea evolved by exaptation of ancient defense pathways, replacing cell death with nutrient acquisition." https://lnkd.in/eMqKE3X View in LinkedIn

PROTECTION. "When the carnivorous plant D. muscipula digests insects, the possibility exists that it could become infected by any pathogenic bacteria present in those insects. Instead, the plant appears to absorb the nutrients it requires from the insects that it ingests without becoming infected." https://lnkd.in/e9VTVUF View in LinkedIn

REPURPOSING OLD MACHINERY. "Many biologists suspect ancestors of carnivorous plants evolved by adapting mechanisms normally used to detect and defend against herbivores. Experiments showed that the flytrap digests its prey with the same kind digestive enzymes that other plants use to ward off insects. A few hours after catching prey, the flytrap turns on another set of familiar genes to absorb nutrients; many of these genes are expressed in the roots of other plants." https://lnkd.in/epbzadB View in LinkedIn

CODING AND NON-CODING. "During the first five decades of molecular biology it was a common concept that DNA mainly stored the information from which protein-coded sequences are translated. In contrast to this, increasing amounts of knowledge suggested that the largest parts of the genome do not code for proteins but serve as regulatory elements." Derived from mobile elements of viruses. https://lnkd.in/eN3vAgM View in LinkedIn