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Plants' Wisdom
- safemodemobility
- Jun 17, 2024
- 5 min read
The Source Code of Life
Think of DNA as our source code. Just like how a computer runs on code, every organism—from humans to plants to animals—runs on DNA. This DNA code tells our bodies how to build everything we need, like proteins, cells, and enzymes. The more lines of code, the more complex and sophisticated the organism. Imagine it like megabytes (MB) of data in a computer: the larger the genome, the more MB it can store.
In 2012, scientists mapped the entire human genome, revealing it has about 24,000 genes, equating to roughly 3,300 MB of data. Chickens, by comparison, have around 17,000 genes, while crickets have about 8,000 (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia).
These genes enable us to grow legs, eyes, brains, and do amazing things like move, think, speak, jump, and even fly. But guess what? A small wheat plant, which can’t run, jump, or fly, has a whopping 90,000 genes!
That’s four times more than humans. Rice and corn aren’t far behind with 56,000-59,000 genes (Encyclopedia Britannica). Surprising, right?
Plants: The Overlooked Genius
So why do these plants have so many genes? It all goes back to LUCA (the Last Universal Common Ancestor), which connects the animal and plant kingdoms. After the agricultural revolution, humans began to distance themselves from the natural ecosystem, viewing nature as something to control and commercialize. This led to the misconception that plants are simple, unconscious organisms.
However, plants are incredibly sophisticated. They can produce compounds, convert sunlight into oxygen through photosynthesis, and create minerals and proteins. Animals, including us, rely on what plants produce. Plants were here long before animals and can survive without them. They can even pollinate themselves using the wind (Biology Stack Exchange).
The Science of Plant Complexity
Research has shown that plants possess intricate mechanisms for survival and communication. For instance:
Photosynthesis: Plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, a process so complex that it remains a topic of intense scientific study. According to a study published in Nature, this process involves multiple protein complexes working in unison to convert light energy into a usable form.
Communication: Studies have demonstrated that plants can communicate through chemical signals. When under attack by herbivores, plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to warn neighboring plants of the danger. Research from the University of Lausanne showed that these signals can trigger defensive responses in other plants.
Symbiotic Relationships: Plants often engage in symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria, known as mycorrhizal networks. These networks, sometimes called the "Wood Wide Web," allow plants to share resources like water and nutrients. A study in Ecology Letters highlighted how trees can send carbon to younger, shaded seedlings through these networks, promoting forest regeneration.
Rethinking the Food Chain: The Dependent Chain
We often think of humans and animals as the pinnacle of the food chain, but in reality, it's a dependent chain. The animal kingdom, including humans, is entirely dependent on plants. Here's why:
Primary Producers: Plants are primary producers, meaning they create their own food through photosynthesis. This process not only feeds the plants but also produces oxygen, a byproduct essential for animal life.
Nutrient Foundation: All animals, directly or indirectly, rely on plants for nutrition. Herbivores eat plants, and carnivores eat herbivores. This entire chain collapses without the foundation that plants provide.
Sustainability: Plants have mechanisms to survive and thrive independently. They can photosynthesize, produce their own seeds, and even engage in complex communication and support networks to ensure their survival.
Plants and Consciousness
We often think of humans as the smartest and most sophisticated beings, but that’s not entirely true. This belief led us to think we are the only ones with consciousness or souls. But plants have consciousness, memory, and wisdom too. They communicate with each other, some live for thousands of years, and they support one another, sharing resources and wisdom.
Memory and Learning: Research from the University of Western Australia found that plants can learn from experience. In a study published in Oecologia, researchers showed that Mimosa pudica plants can learn to ignore repeated stimuli that are not harmful, demonstrating a form of memory.
Longevity: Some trees, like the bristlecone pine, can live for thousands of years. These ancient trees have witnessed millennia of environmental changes, storing invaluable ecological data within their rings. A study in Quaternary Science Reviews used tree-ring data to reconstruct past climate conditions, highlighting the importance of these ancient organisms.
Human Connection to Nature
For millennia, humans lived closely with nature, learning from and being nurtured by it. We spent our days under trees, absorbing their wisdom. Kids grew up learning from nature, not just in classrooms. Plants in forests form communities, communicating and supporting each other just like any other living beings.
Biophilia Hypothesis: This hypothesis suggests that humans have an innate connection to nature. Research published in Science Advances found that spending time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function.
Traditional Knowledge: Indigenous cultures around the world have long recognized the wisdom of plants. The San people of southern Africa, for instance, use plant knowledge passed down through generations to survive in harsh environments. Ethnobotanical studies, like those published in Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, document the extensive plant knowledge possessed by indigenous communities.
Conclusion
Nature has so much to teach us if we only stop to listen. The wisdom of old trees and the intricate lives of plants remind us that we are part of a larger, interconnected world. The stories and prejudices we've held about plants being simple or inferior are being proven wrong. Plants are not only sophisticated and complex but are also the foundation upon which all animal life, including humans, depends. So next time you’re near an old tree, take a moment to appreciate the silent wisdom it holds. The more we learn about plants, the more we realize how essential and remarkable they truly are.
Resources
Prof. Huberman interview Dr. Diego Bohorquez, a researcher who grown up in the Amazons and share interesting experience and thoughts about the plants' capabilities and the science around it. (the link has a time-stamp for that part of the episode).
Geekonomy - גיקונומי - Episode 613 with Prof. Avi Levy.
Prof. Levy is the dean of the biochemistry school at the Wizman institute, researching plants and it's evolutions.
Mutant Message Down Under/ Marlo Morgan
Sharing the experience of living with the hunter-gatherer tribe of the Aborigines in Australia.
Suzanne Simard is a revolutionary researcher who is transforming the science of forest ecology and coming full circle to the wisdom held by First Peoples and traditional land-based cultures from time immemorial. The story Simard is uncovering can change our story for how we live on Earth and with each other – for the long haul.
Fantastic Fungi
Fantastic Fungi began with a groundbreaking film that sparked a movement and inspired our mission: to harness mushrooms’ extraordinary potential to nourish and promote the well-being of people and the planet.
The Joe Rogan Experience - Paul Stamets Episode #1035
Paul Stamets is a mycologist, author and advocate of bioremediation and medicinal fungi.
The Joe Rogan Experience - Paul Rosolie Episode #2013
Paul Rosolie is a conservationist, filmmaker, and writer. He's the founder of Junglekeepers, an organization protecting threatened habitat in western Amazonia.
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