Jan 12, 2010: Escargot & Salad... In One

xoxoxoBruce · 01-11-2010, 11:05 PM

Well not escargot, strictly speaking, 'cause it's a Green Sea Slug.
And not salad, strictly speaking, unless you eat Algae salads.

But this critter is part animal and part plant, they've just discovered.

And pretty ugly, too.

Quote:

Shaped like a leaf itself, the slug Elysia chlorotica already has a reputation for kidnapping the photosynthesizing organelles and some genes from algae. Now it turns out that the slug has acquired enough stolen goods to make an entire plant chemical-making pathway work inside an animal body, says Sidney K. Pierce of the University of South Florida in Tampa.

The slugs can manufacture the most common form of chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants that captures energy from sunlight, Pierce reported January 7 at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Pierce used a radioactive tracer to show that the slugs were making the pigment, called chlorophyll a, themselves and not simply relying on chlorophyll reserves stolen from the algae the slugs dine on.

Or to put it in more scientific terms...

Quote:

“This could be a fusion of a plant and an animal — that’s just cool,” said invertebrate zoologist John Zardus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.

link

via

squirell nutkin · 01-12-2010, 12:26 AM

Mwwwuuuuahhh hahahahah!
Evil Genius: Slugs! HE created slugs! They can't hear. They can't speak. They can't operate machinery. Are we not in the hands of a lunatic?

SPUCK · 01-12-2010, 05:25 AM

Oh kay... Do I reach for pesticide or herbicide?

nil_orally · 01-12-2010, 05:32 AM

Nothing original here. I work for a large corporation that has plenty of walking vegetables, usually in management.

capnhowdy · 01-12-2010, 06:54 AM

Now that's a face only a mother could love.

Sheldonrs · 01-12-2010, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUCK

Oh kay... Do I reach for pesticide or herbicide?

Garlic butter.

Trilby · 01-12-2010, 07:42 AM

I fear the sea.

Shawnee123 · 01-12-2010, 07:53 AM

Oh wow...I marvel at the sea. I've changed my mind: instead of moving to Canada or the Moon, I would like a sea dome. kthx!

Degrees · 01-12-2010, 08:24 AM

It's a pot-head's nightmare.

"Dude. Your salad is looking at me."

spudcon · 01-12-2010, 09:08 AM

Animal veggies aren't new. I saw a walking tree in a movie years ago.

classicman · 01-12-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

instead of moving to Canada or the Moon, I would like a sea dome. kthx!

What? I thought you were moving into the Unibombers cabin?

Shawnee123 · 01-12-2010, 10:15 AM

The UnAbomber's cabin is as cold as Canada. So I had to think outside the rotting dilapidated condemned box.

monster · 01-12-2010, 03:37 PM

I think he's cute. I'll be his momma -gotta be less hassle than my current brood

Sheldonrs · 01-12-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudcon

Animal veggies aren't new. I saw a walking tree in a movie years ago.

Now that's ENTertainment!

treehugger · 01-12-2010, 05:52 PM

I think its cool. plus salad tastes good

01-12-2010, 12:26 AM	#2
squirell nutkin has a second hand user title Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: in a Nut House Posts: 2,017	Mwwwuuuuahhh hahahahah! Evil Genius: Slugs! HE created slugs! They can't hear. They can't speak. They can't operate machinery. Are we not in the hands of a lunatic? __________________ And now I'm finished posting.

01-12-2010, 05:32 AM	#4
nil_orally Larger than average member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Melbourne, Oz. Posts: 72	Nothing original here. I work for a large corporation that has plenty of walking vegetables, usually in management. __________________ Waiting for inspiration.....

01-12-2010, 06:54 AM	#5
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Now that's a face only a mother could love. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

01-12-2010, 07:42 AM	#7
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I fear the sea. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

01-12-2010, 07:53 AM	#8
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Oh wow...I marvel at the sea. I've changed my mind: instead of moving to Canada or the Moon, I would like a sea dome. kthx! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

01-12-2010, 05:25 AM	#3
SPUCK Professor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,911	Oh kay... Do I reach for pesticide or herbicide?

01-12-2010, 08:24 AM	#9
Degrees Resident Denizen Join Date: May 2001 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 62	For the self medicating, a problem It's a pot-head's nightmare. "Dude. Your salad is looking at me."

01-12-2010, 09:08 AM	#10
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	Animal veggies aren't new. I saw a walking tree in a movie years ago. Attached Images __________________ "I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

01-12-2010, 10:15 AM	#12
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	The UnAbomber's cabin is as cold as Canada. So I had to think outside the rotting dilapidated condemned box. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

01-12-2010, 03:37 PM	#13
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I think he's cute. I'll be his momma -gotta be less hassle than my current brood __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-12-2010, 05:52 PM	#15
treehugger Antagonistic Antagonist Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 22	I think its cool. plus salad tastes good

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: