Russian Scientists Revive 32,000 Year Old Flower

Narrow-Leafed Campion.
Photo by Svetlana Yashina

Russian scientists Svetlana Yashina and David Gilichinsky of the Russian Academy of Sciences research center at Pushchino (near Moscow) have grown flowering plants called narrow-leafed campions from 32,000 year-old seeds found in the Siberian permafrost.  The seeds were found in ancient squirrel burrows containing more than 600,000 seeds and fruits, which were buried under 125 feet of sediment and frozen permanently at minus 7 degrees Celsius. The scientists were able to grow living plants from the seeds after placing the nucleus of the seeds in a nutrient bath.  The flowers most closely resemble the contemporary narrow-leafed campion (Silene Stenophylla).  I thought this was amazing! Here is more from the New York Times.