Plant cytoplasm preserved by lightning

Tissue & Cell
X Wang

Abstract

Usually only an organism with hard parts may be preserved in the fossil record. Cytoplasm, which is a physiologically active part of a plant, is rarely seen in the fossil record. Two Cretaceous plant fossils older than 100 million years with exceptional preservation of cytoplasm are reported here. Some cytoplasm is well preserved with subcellular details while other cytoplasm is highly hydrolyzed in the cortex of the same fossil even though both of preservations may be less than 2 microm away. The unique preservation pattern, sharp contrast of preservation in adjacent cells and the exceptional preservation of cytoplasm in the cortex suggest that lightning should play an important role in the preservation of cytoplasm and that cytoplasmic membranes may be more stable than the cell contents. Interpreting the preservation needs knowledge scattering in several formerly unrelated fields of science, including geophysics, botany, biophysics, cytology and microwave fixation technology. This new interpretation of fossilization will shed new light on preservation of cytoplasm and promote cytoplasm fossils from a position of rarity to a position of common research objects available for biological research. The importance of the identifica...Continue Reading

References

Feb 1, 2003·Science·Joseph R DwyerBrian Wright

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Citations

Dec 31, 2010·Molecular Membrane Biology·Xin WangKaihe Du
Sep 8, 2010·The New Phytologist·William J Bond, Andrew C Scott
Oct 17, 2014·American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology·Naveen K SomannaReza Izadpanah

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