On 23 Jun 2003 15:45:26 -0700, (Bryan) wrote in
Message-Id: :

What's a "telemores"?

telo•mere \"te-le-'mir, "te-\ noun [ISV] (1940)
: the natural end of a eukaryotic chromosome

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I think that when discussing the age of any species, it is fair to
keep in mind the difference between "forever", and a few hundred, or a
few thousand years.

How old would a plant have to be to qualify for consideration as a
candidate for proof of its immortality in your view?

Sugesting that orchids may be "immortal" is completely inaccurate, and
I just wanted to steer the discussion away from that conclusion.

I would be interested in learning the source of your sagacious
information. Presumably your assertion is founded on factual data.

Larry Dighera wrote in message . ..
On 22 Jun 2003 16:37:39 -0700, (Bryan) wrote in
Message-Id: :

If orchids can live "forever" then that would put them in a special
category not shared by ANY OTHER living thing in known existence..
Genetic material does decay... Eventually..
No matter how old the plant, or how many times it has devided or grown
new crowns, the genetic structure is as old as the original seedling.
In other words, if the DNA is not refreshed by reproduction, and
sowing of new seed, then like anything else, the life sustaining force
of the genetic structure does eventually die out.
True, with orchids, this may take in excess of 150 years to occur,
given optimum culture... But it will happen.

Would "the life sustaining force" you mention have anything to do with
telomeres?