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The Little Algae That Could

Posted by Hemos on from the evolution-devolution dept.

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."

2 of 196 comments (clear)

  1. yet still, I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    how an organism could defeat the enormous odds and produce an offspring that has a positive 'mutation'. Much less where the creature would not destroy it in utero, or after birth as is many organisms habits. Then (for higher sexual species) for the EXACT SAME mutation to occur with the same results (surpassing natures detection of abnormality in utero or after birth and all). Plus, not only would both creatures have to be of opposite sex, but both would have to actually be produced in the same area in order to meet and mate.

    Well, like that owl said... I guess the world will never know!

  2. Let's talk about REAL scum. by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Let me digress from the topic for a moment, to give you a little background information about scum.

    Have you ever read The Lord of the Rings? It's an AWESOME book. The author has many talents, not the least of which are causing the reader to actually care for (and feel concerned about) the characters. One of my favorite things about the book is the way it makes me feel as though I'm on a perilous journey along with the characters. Many authors don't have that subtle talent. Furthermore, the story mixes storybook-style characters with serious characters and situations. This creates a very interesting style of comedy relief. In my opinion, the author has a great arsenal of writing talents. Not only is the story very interesting, but the writing style itself is a great part of the fun.

    Now let me get back on topic and talk about scum. Lord of the Rings, the movie. That's scum. It's trash. It's garbage. The movie sucks so bad, my friend and I actually left the theater in the middle of the movie, disgusted. The book rocks. The movie sucks.

    The movie cut 9 out of every 10 scenes out of the book, and several characters, and modified the events. It gave away all mystery (I forgot to mention the element of mystery present in the book) right at the beginning. The movie took a well written, well unfolding book and turned it into a flat, obvious and boring plot. The feeling of being on a journey was gone. Instead, my friend and I felt that the movie dragged on and on, and for nothing. The characters didn't look or behave "real." ALL the beauty of the book was lost. All that remains is plagiarism. I don't care if New Line Cinema licensed whatever--it's plagiarism as far as I'm concerned, and really bad plagiarism at that. You may as well make Lord of the Rings a 30 second flick where Frodo mails the ring to mount doom, and the postman tosses it in the flames for him, because this so-called "Trilogy" of movies isn't any better than that. In fact, it's worse because it's being advertised as something worthwhile.

    Leave it at that. Don't waste your time (and corrupt what might otherwise be your good image of the book) by watching that horrible movie.

    Late.