Algae in ginkgo cells
2006/08/10 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa
Ginkgo is a very widespread tree in gardens around the world. It is also known for its numerous medicinal compounds. It has been used as a medicinal plant for a long time in China and Japan, and currently numerous research is carried out to know these drugs.
In one of these studies, ginkgo cells were found to have an algae. A researcher at the François-Rabelais University of Tours worked with the cell cultures of ginkgo and saw that sometimes they would look green. From there they took the mark: the cultural green was due to the photosynthesis that made the internal algae after the death of the cells.
Another researcher has continued to work on this discovery, a German ficologist at the University of Erlangen. And he has seen in what part of the tree is the cell: except in the leaves, in the cells of all the parts. For the research has used indications of different places: United States, France, Germany and China. They say they all have algae, so the symbiosis between the ginkgo cell and the algae is a symbiosis that was born long ago.
Photo: MEC.
