Joel Kontinen
Science Daily has an interesting view of the origin of roots:
“Despite plants and vegetation being key to the Earth's ecosystem, little is known about the origin of their roots. However in new research, published in Nature, Oxford University scientists describe a transitional root fossils from the earliest land ecosystem that sheds light on how roots have evolved.”
“The findings suggest that plant roots have evolved more than once, and that the characteristics of roots developed in a step-wise manner -- with the central root organ evolving first. And the root cap subsequently coming later.”
Professor Liam Dolan, who conducted a microscopic study with Dr Sandy Hetherington of the oldest known plant ecosystem -- the 407 million-year-old Rhynie chert, said: 'Our discovery suggests that plant organs were built up step-by-step during the course of plant evolution.’
Thus, plants got their present shape as they were becoming plants. As Dr. Hetherington says: “the cellular organisation of plants that were growing 407 million years ago.”
They also found root meristems belonging to the lycopsid plant Asteroxylon mackiei. They think that the “roots are a transitional step towards modern-style.”
Thus, the origin of roots is a Darwinian mystery.
The origin of plants is too hard for A Darwinist to understand .
Source:
University of Oxford. 2018. Getting to the root of plant evolution. (22 August).
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