How Fast Are Plants?

Joel Kontinen


"Scientists have revealed intricate structural changes within protein molecules called phytochromes to show how plants and bacteria perceive light.

Scientists have revealed intricate structural changes in plants, fungi and bacteria in response to light, according to a new study published today in the open-access journal eLife."

Which is better designed or its vase?

Now, it seems that the flower is better designed -it sphytochromes give it supernatural speed.

“The phytochrome allows organisms to distinguish between two colours of light, giving plants, fungi and bacteria primitive two-colour vision,” explains lead author Elin Claesson, a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. “Key to its function is the initial response to light, where the light signal is translated into structural changes over a fraction of a second.

Flowers have other tricks that show they are designed. Sunflowers co-operate to get more space and more sunshine, eucalyptus sweats to keep cool and smart plants use a clever trick to avoid being eaten.

Source:

Ultrabright X-ray bursts reveal how plants respond to light within fraction of a second. eLIFE 31 March.