Using an ancient seed from 1,000 years ago to cultivate a "mysterious tree"?

Author: Huang Yanhong Duan Yuechu

According to a report by CNN on October 5, 2024, a recent article in CNN's "Magical Theory" science newsletter mentioned that a 1,000-year-old seed was cultivated into a mysterious tree, and the research has attracted widespread attention from the scientific community. This achievement has made far-reaching contributions to modern science in many fields such as plant evolution, genetic diversity and medicinal plant research.

1. Plant Evolution Research

1. Preservation of genetic information

The evolution of plants is like a vast history book, and genes are the key record in this history book. An ancient seed that has been dormant for 1,000 years is like a treasure trove of genetic information, which perfectly preserves the genetic information of ancient plants. Over the long years, plant genes have continued to evolve under the influence of environmental changes, natural selection and other factors.

From macroscopic ecological changes to microscopic cellular and molecular changes, plant genes have been adapting and evolving. For example, temperature fluctuations and changes in precipitation patterns caused by climate change have prompted plants to develop different gene expressions to adapt to the new environment; natural selection is like a sieve, screening out gene combinations that adapt to the environment. The mysterious tree cultivated from this ancient seed is like a key to open the door to ancient plant genes.

Through in-depth research on this mysterious tree, scientists can directly obtain detailed information about plant genes thousands of years ago, including gene structure (from coding regions to non-coding regions), components (base sequence, gene family composition, etc.), thus filling the gaps in genetic information in the history of plant evolution.

When exploring the genetic evolution of plants from ancient times to the present, ancient genes are like magical "time capsules". Scientists use them to trace the genetic status of specific plants in ancient times and compare them with the genes of similar or closely related plants in modern times to find gene additions, deletions, mutations, etc. These changes may be the key to plants adapting to environmental changes, such as the loss of certain genes due to environmental changes, or the generation of new genes to cope with new challenges. Gene mutations may also give plants new characteristics, such as changes in flowering time, fruit size, or tolerance to environmental stress.

2. Tracing the evolutionary process

The mysterious tree was determined to belong to the genus Cynomorium and may be an extinct species. This discovery is of great significance for constructing the plant evolutionary tree. The evolutionary tree is like a family tree of biological groups, showing the relationship and evolutionary order between organisms.

This mysterious tree occupies a unique position in the evolutionary lineage of the genus Cynomorium, like a key part that fills in the missing link. By carefully observing and analyzing its morphological characteristics (trunk texture, leaf shape, flower and fruit characteristics, etc.) and gene sequences, scientists can accurately determine its relationship with other Cynomorium plants and related groups, and then infer the evolutionary path of Cynomorium plants.

For example, if the mysterious tree is found to have significant differences from existing scale plants in certain gene fragments, this may suggest that the genus has undergone major evolutionary events in the past 1,000 years. Environmental pressure may promote genetic differentiation. For example, when scale plants encountered drought, floods, or pests and diseases in the past thousand years, their genes for survival underwent adaptive differentiation, retaining mutant genes that can cope with stress to form new types. Geographic isolation is also an important factor. Geographic barriers caused by mountain uplift and river diversion have separated some scale plants from their peers, and developed unique genetic characteristics in independent environments, which may lead to speciation events.

2. Genetic Diversity Research

1. Unique genetic resources

The mysterious tree is like a genetic treasure trove, possibly carrying unique genes that have disappeared or are rare in modern plant populations, providing new material for the study of plant genetic diversity.

In the course of history, the genetic diversity of plants has changed due to a variety of factors. These unique genes provide valuable clues for understanding how plants maintain or lose genetic diversity. For example, the mysterious tree may have special disease-resistant genes that helped plants resist pathogens in ancient times, but modern plant populations may have lost these genes due to environmental changes, human activities, and other interference.

The mysterious tree may also have strong genes for stress resistance (such as drought resistance and cold resistance). These genes have contributed to its ability to survive in a specific environment over the past thousand years. In-depth research on these unique genes is like opening the door to the mystery of plant adaptability. In the field of modern plant breeding, these genes are valuable resources.

Taking crops as an example, improving the ability to adapt to adverse environments is crucial. If the drought-resistant genes in the mysterious tree can be introduced into crops, it may be possible to cultivate more drought-resistant varieties and improve the yield and quality in water-scarce environments; in cold regions, cold-resistant genes can enhance the ability of crops to withstand low temperatures and reduce frost damage. This will not only help ensure global food security, but also expand the scope of crop cultivation.

2. Enlightenment on Diversity Protection

The research result of successfully cultivating the mysterious tree from ancient seeds is like a wake-up call, reminding people to pay attention to the protection of plant genetic diversity. In modern society, the expansion of human activities has compressed the living space of wild plants, many plants are facing the risk of extinction, and plant genetic diversity has decreased sharply.

This study shows that plant genes that seem to have disappeared in the long river of history may still reappear in modern ecosystems. This shows us the great significance of protecting wild plant seed banks and ancient plant habitats. Wild plant seed banks are like the Noah's Ark of genes, preserving many plant seeds and rich genetic resources. Each seed may be the key to saving species or improving plants.

Ancient plant habitats are natural treasure troves of plant genes, nurturing diverse plant species that have formed unique gene combinations in the course of evolution. Protecting habitats is to protect the natural evolutionary process of plants and the genetic diversity that is crucial to future plant breeding and ecosystem stability. For example, the genetic diversity of rare plants in ancient forests is irreplaceable for maintaining the ecological balance and stability of forests. If forests are destroyed, the entire ecological community, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, will be seriously affected.

3. Research on medicinal plants

1. Potential medicinal value

The research team speculated that the mysterious tree may be related to a healing plant mentioned in the Bible, which provides new clues for the study of medicinal plants. In the long history of human medical development, medicinal plants recorded in ancient documents are potential treasures for modern drug research and development.

Ancient people accumulated knowledge about plant medicine in their fight against diseases and recorded it in literature. Although ancient medical concepts differ from modern science, ancient medicinal plants may contain values ​​that modern medicine has not yet discovered. If the relationship between the mysterious tree and ancient medicinal plants can be confirmed, it would be like opening a box full of treasures.

By analyzing the chemical composition of the mysterious tree, scientists may discover new medicinal compounds. Modern drug development often relies on the study of plant chemical components, and many successful drugs are derived from plants or inspired by them. For example, artemisinin was extracted from Artemisia annua, which changed the treatment of malaria.

The mysterious tree may contain active ingredients that can treat serious diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cancer treatment currently has limitations. If there are ingredients in the mysterious tree that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells or induce apoptosis, it will bring hope to cancer treatment. Cardiovascular disease is a high-mortality disease. If active ingredients that can improve cardiovascular function, lower blood lipids or prevent thrombosis can be found in the mysterious tree, it will also be a major breakthrough in the medical field.

2. Exploration of ancient medicinal plants

The emergence of the mysterious tree provides a valuable example for exploring ancient medicinal plants. In ancient times, people from all over the country used local plant resources to treat diseases, forming a rich knowledge system of medicinal plants, but as time went by, much of the medicinal knowledge was lost.

On the one hand, the development of modern medicine has led to the neglect of traditional medicinal plant knowledge in some areas, and on the other hand, wars, natural disasters, cultural changes, etc. have led to the loss of medicinal knowledge. The mysterious tree is like a messenger from ancient times, giving scientists the opportunity to re-examine the ancient medicinal plant knowledge system.

Through modern scientific means (such as chemical analysis technology, biological experimental methods, etc.), scientists can verify the scientific nature of ancient knowledge of medicinal plants and discover more potential medicinal values. For example, ancient documents record that a certain part of the mysterious tree can cure a certain disease. Scientists can verify this through pharmacological experiments. If successful, they can further study the mechanism of action and develop more effective drugs. They can also explore whether other parts of the tree have undiscovered medicinal value.

The research on cultivating mysterious trees from ancient seeds has made significant contributions to modern science in many aspects. Whether it is the research on the plants themselves or the impact on human health and ecological protection, it has great potential and far-reaching significance.