Ancient Gene Exchanges Between Fungi and Plants Sparked Earth’s First Land Ecosystems
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Ancient gene transfers between fungi and plants enabled the development of Earth’s first terrestrial ecosystems, providing key adaptations that helped early plants transition from aquatic to land environments.
📈 One key stat: The gene transfer occurred approximately 500 million years ago between a fungus and the common ancestor of terrestrial plants, equipping early vegetation with essential survival tools for land colonization.
💬 One key quote: “The gene transfer provided essential tools that allowed plants to endure the stresses of land life, including dehydration and exposure to new microorganisms,” explains Pierre-Marc Delaux, a research director at CNRS.
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists from the University of Toulouse have discovered evidence of ancient gene transfers between fungi and plants that fundamentally changed our planet’s ecological history. By analyzing the genetic material of bryophytes like Marchantia polymorpha, researchers identified traces of significant genetic exchanges that occurred roughly 500 million years ago. These transfers equipped primitive plants with crucial adaptations for surviving on land, including mechanisms to manage water stress and defend against new pathogens. This research highlights how cooperation between different biological kingdoms was essential for life’s transition from water to land.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This discovery reshapes our understanding of evolutionary biology by demonstrating how cross-kingdom collaboration enabled life to diversify beyond aquatic environments. The mechanisms revealed could provide valuable insights for addressing modern climate challenges and enhancing biodiversity conservation efforts. By understanding how plants historically adapted to environmental stresses, scientists can develop new strategies to boost the resilience of contemporary plant species facing climate change. The findings suggest gene transfer between species played a larger role in evolution than previously recognized, opening new avenues for research that might help protect and strengthen plant life in changing conditions.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers will continue exploring how these ancient genetic exchanges shaped plant evolution and ecosystems. Scientists hope to apply these evolutionary lessons to develop climate adaptation strategies for modern plants. The University of Toulouse team plans to investigate other potential cross-kingdom gene transfers that might have influenced evolutionary trajectories.
Read the full story here: Sustainability Times – “Life Sparked by Fungi and Plants”: Gene Transfer Between Kingdoms May Have Ignited Earth’s Earliest Ecosystems Billions of Years Ago
