The Little Algae That Could

A reader writes "This NewsFactor Network article says scientists have discovered a genetic "missing link" that helps to explain how primordial pond scum evolved into the land plants that now cover the Earth. Their conclusion: A type of green algae is the closest living relative of the first land plants."

Comments

Spawn

[NiftyNews]

And the first thing to spawn from it?

Lawyers.

Re:Spawn

[waitdyahoo.com]

So lawyers are closer to pond scum then we thought!!

Re:Spawn

[smaug195]

Don't you mean slashdot trolls?

Not all pond scum evolved

[13013dobbs]

Some did not. That type of scum is called a 'sales person'.

Re:Leaves a lot to be desired...

[Anonymous Coward]

Then they wouldn't be missing links, would they?

Pond scum is closest?

[gewalkeriq]

I'm not sure which is closest, the
account in Genesis in a little unclear
on which day pond scum was created.

I mean on day 3, you get herbs, grass
and fruit trees on dry land.

On day 5 you get the living creatures
that move in the ocean. Does pond scum
move? does this count?

Charales and Primordial scum

[axolotl_farmer]

For a long time, Charales has been one of the prime suspects in being the sister group of the land plants

This however has nothing to do with primordial scum! Charales are advanced green algae that looks something like a submerged moss. I need to read the article, but i suspect the reason Nature would publish this is that they used some new fancy algorith to calculate the phylogenetic trees.

On The Next Jerry Springer ...

[Freneticus]

I Made Love To An Algal Bloom

Today, on Springer! Men reveal secret fetishes to their significant others, with slurpy results!

Guest: "Jerry, I've been having a secret space affair with an algal bloom on the blue planet known as Earth, and I'm here today to tell the truth to my space lover. I want her or him or it, whatever you call an amorphous sillicon entity, not that I actually know but man, the things he, she, or it can do ... but anyway, I want him, her, or it to know how much he, she, or it means to me."

Jerry: "Oh really? Well, space man, we've got a surprise for you! Turns out your dalliances on Earth created something you didn't quite expect ... so let's bring them in, right now! Sneaky space twinkie, say hello to the entire human race!"

Guest: "Uh-oh."

Re:Leaves a lot to be desired...

[czardonic]

Leaves a lot to be desired...

Or,

"Leaves, a lot to be desired."