Category Archives: genetics

Charles Darwin – Man amongst the Men

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Updated – September, 2013

Charles Darwin – Man amongst the Men

Charles Darwin – Man Amongst the Men - adidarwinian

Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882) – by Adidarwinian (Aditya Sardana)

Charles Darwin – Man amongst the Men!!!

The real one — truly a man amongst the men!!

The only heroic biologist who showed the path of life!!

The man who enlightened the intellectuals!!

All biologists acknowledge the fact that no one has influenced the understanding of our existence on this planet Earth as intensely as Charles Darwin. His explanation of evolution by means of natural selection has earned the status of the most impactful theory of the life sciences. The concept of evolution by means of natural selection comprehensively explains the existence of the stunningly varied kinds of life forms on our planet Earth and sheds light on how varied kinds of life forms have adapted themselves fully to their respective environments. The theory of evolution by Charles Darwin was a result of many years of well-conducted scientific research, and was the first theory ever presented before to the scientific community that clearly explained a multitude of the observed phenomena including the geographical distribution of species, the progressive nature of fossil forms found in the geological records, the theory of recapitulation, vestigial organs, homologous structures, and others. Charles Darwin lucidly explained that the difference between human beings and other animal species is one of the degree and not kind.

A Biological Marvel Unleashed

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A Biological Marvel Unleashed

A Biological Marvel - Photosynthetic Sea Slug - adidarwinian
A Biological Marvel – Photosynthetic Sea Slug

Note the bright green hue in the photograph.

This Sea Slug is a Biological Marvel — It is both an Animal and a Plant!!

“Elysia chlorotica can make energy containing molecules without having to eat anything.”

“This is the first time that multicellular animals have been able to produce chlorophyll“.

Elysia chlorotica is not an ordinary sea slug (a mollusc). Elysia chlorotica is a photosynthetic sea animal. Like plants, it is capable of converting sunlight into energy.

The photosynthetic ability of Elysia chlorotica is the result of incorporation of algal (Vaucheria litorea) chloroplasts (organelles found in plant cells in which photosynthesis occurs) and chlorophyll producing genes into its molluscan cells. Vaucheria litorea belongs to the yellow-green algae of the class  Xanthophyceae.

These slugs initially got the chlorophyll producing genes from the algae that they had eaten. Present generations of slugs have received these genes from their parent generations, and they are passing them to their daughter generations.

Elysia chlorotica gets its chlorophyll-making genes through genetic inheritance, but still is unable to carry out photosynthesis until it consumes adequate quantity of algae so as to receive necessary chloroplasts, which it is unable to produce by itself.

Photosynthetic Sea Slug - Elysia chlorotica - adidarwinian