What Is the World's Largest Plant?
2022-06-06
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1Scientists have discovered the world's largest plant - a seagrass meadow that has grown by repeatedly copying, or cloning, itself.
2A genetic study found that the underwater field of green seagrass that lives off Australia's western coast is a single organism.
3The organism, 180 square kilometers in size, has survived by making copies of itself for over 4,500 years.
4The research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
5The University of Western Australia's Jane Edgeloe helped write the study.
6She wrote that the researchers confirmed that the meadow was a single organism.
7They did this by sampling and comparing the DNA of small pieces of seagrass from across the sea.
8Several plants and animals can reproduce without sex.
9Researchers wrote that the process can create very fast growth.
10But clones of a single organism can be at increased risk of disease.
11The scientists call the meadow of Poseidon's ribbon weed "the most widespread known clone on Earth."
12Widespread is a term that means common over a wide area.
13Although the seagrass meadow is very large, it faces risks.
14Ten years ago, the seagrass covered an area of around 18 square kilometers more than it does today.
15But storms and rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change have recently killed almost one tenth of the ancient seagrass bed.
16I'm John Russell.
1Scientists have discovered the world's largest plant - a seagrass meadow that has grown by repeatedly copying, or cloning, itself. 2A genetic study found that the underwater field of green seagrass that lives off Australia's western coast is a single organism. The organism, 180 square kilometers in size, has survived by making copies of itself for over 4,500 years. 3The research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 4The University of Western Australia's Jane Edgeloe helped write the study. She wrote that the researchers confirmed that the meadow was a single organism. They did this by sampling and comparing the DNA of small pieces of seagrass from across the sea. 5Several plants and animals can reproduce without sex. Researchers wrote that the process can create very fast growth. But clones of a single organism can be at increased risk of disease. 6The scientists call the meadow of Poseidon's ribbon weed "the most widespread known clone on Earth." 7Widespread is a term that means common over a wide area. 8Although the seagrass meadow is very large, it faces risks. Ten years ago, the seagrass covered an area of around 18 square kilometers more than it does today. But storms and rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change have recently killed almost one tenth of the ancient seagrass bed. 9I'm John Russell. 10Christina Larson reported this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 11____________________________________________________________________ 12Words in This Story 13seagrass - n. a grass-like plant that lives in the sea 14meadow - n. a flat area that is covered with tall grass 15sample - v. to take a small amount of something and study it so that it gives you information about the thing it was taken from