Re: 1 in 8 plant species threatened with extinction

[boddhisatva]

                C. Coleman,



        The rate of species extinction is probably unprecedented since
whatever caused the Cambrian extinction happened.  New species will be
created but novel combinations of DNA will be lost and it is very unlikely
that they will ever be found again.  Fortunately there is enough
redundancy in much DNA not to cripple the process of scientific
understanding, however, losing these plants is like throwing away lottery
tickets before the drawing.  Their value is inestimable and it's a
stinking shame that we have destroyed these plants.  In so many cases the
processes that destroyed them were like knocking down the Louvre to build
a parking lot - and not removing the paintings first. 


        It's true that species die out all the time, but not so fast.





        peace