Troubling Phenomenon

[immortalmack]

Is it me or is something scary about this (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/science/seeds/slideshow/index.html?type=flash).

[Ivy]

What do you find scary about it? I find it reassuring.

[outmywindow]

I thought it was pretty cool when I heard about it on the news last night. Reminded me of the seeds which have been found in Egyptian tombs that later germinated (the seeds, not the Egyptians or the tombs).

What might be troubling is if we found ourselves using it all the time; until then, it's just a neat-o back up plan.

[Rozza]

10/10 to the Norwegians. Ace initiative.

[Stoned_Rider]

You just know that immortalmack is somehow going to turn this into an issue to do with government oppression and people's liberties taken away from them... can't wait :popcorn:

[outmywindow]

You just know that immortalmack is somehow going to turn this into an issue to do with government oppression and people's liberties taken away from them... can't wait :popcorn:
I WILL HAVE MY FREEDOM SEEDS!!!!

[Chaselation]

I'm glad to see we're contributing priorities and all.

Canada's main contribution was barley -- 3,777 lines of barley from the Saskatoon centre's large barley and oat collections.
"You can't start a new world without beer," joked Diederichsen.

"The vault is a backup to the world's 1,400 other seed banks, including the Canadian Seed Gene Bank at Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon........

.....Some of the world's seed banks, including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Burundi and the Solomon Islands, have been virtually destroyed because of conflicts or natural disasters, said Fowler."

Apparently it's been thought of for some time.

[Ivy]

Oh, that rules! (re: barley for beer)

[Anonymous]

So how long do frozen seeds last? Forever? I'd imagine that if they can be frozen and then still grow after that, forever is the case, but I'm no botanist.

[Chaselation]

So how long do frozen seeds last? Forever? I'd imagine that if they can be frozen and then still grow after that, forever is the case, but I'm no botanist.

I reading some of these articles there was a reference to viable seeds found with Egyptian artifacts so it would seem they last some time.

[outmywindow]

So how long do frozen seeds last? Forever? I'd imagine that if they can be frozen and then still grow after that, forever is the case, but I'm no botanist.
According to the news report I saw last night, some seeds can remain viable for as long as 20,000 years. I don't know what the average amount of time is, though as Chas and I mentioned, seeds from Egyptian tombs have germinated after being unearthed and given water before.

[Anonymous]

I reading some of these articles there was a reference to viable seeds found with Egyptian artifacts so it would seem they last some time.


According to the news report I saw last night, some seeds can remain viable for as long as 20,000 years. I don't know what the average amount of time is, though as Chas and I mentioned, seeds from Egyptian tombs have germinated after being unearthed and given water before.

That's pretty amazing. Although still, I wonder what it is that eventually goes wrong with them. Maybe the DNA gets messed up? Not that it matters, 20,000 years is most likely more than enough time for to screw the Earth up and need to utilize one of the banks.

[Thevenin]

I also find it reassuring (as long as the polar bears stay away from the vault).

[Chaselation]

According to the news report I saw last night, some seeds can remain viable for as long as 20,000 years. I don't know what the average amount of time is, though as Chas and I mentioned, seeds from Egyptian tombs have germinated after being unearthed and given water before.

*Reads with comprehension*


I also find it reassuring (as long as the polar bears stay away from the vault).

6249

Me too!

If this ever becomes necessary you banana lovers better get you fill now.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bio99/bio99783.htm