Posted 5 Feb 2013 · Report post ... altruism is not only linked to humans and members of the animal kingdom - according to a study from the University of Colorado Boulder, research suggests that some plants may also have an altruistic side.Researchers at CU Boulder studied corn in which each fertilized seed that contained two "siblings" — an embryo (part of a seed) and an endosperm (tissue that provides nutrition to the embryo as the seed grows)."One of the most fundamental laws of nature is that if you are going to be an altruist, give it up to your closest relatives," said William "Ned" Friedman, co-author of the paper and professor at Harvard University who helped conduct research. "Altruism only evolves if the benefactor is a close relative of the beneficiary. When the endosperm gives all of its food to the embryo and then dies, it doesn’t get more altruistic than that."http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/45554http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2013/02/01/can-plants-be-altruistic-you-bet-says-new-cu-boulder-led-studyHumans on the cob unite for sacrifice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 6 Feb 2013 · Report post Anthropomorphism run amok! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 6 Feb 2013 · Report post Conceptual chaos.A plant using energy to create more leaves is altruistic since it could be using that energy to sustain the life of the leaves already on the plant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 6 Feb 2013 · Report post all of the "altruism" can be explained by Dawkin's "selfish" gene.Beware, dear friends, of the snares of language used loosely.ruveyn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 6 Feb 2013 · Report post And since they're ethically superior, these plants' rights trump ours . . . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
