Thu, 14 Jun 2007

Plants 'Recognize' Their Siblings

Brother, can you spare a leaf?

Biologists have found that plants are able to recognize their own relatives. Researchers at McMaster University have found that plants get fiercely competitive when forced to share their pot with strangers of the same species, but they're accommodating when potted with their siblings. Though they lack cognition and memory, the study shows plants are capable of complex social behaviours such as altruism towards relatives.

(link) [Slashdot]

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