Scientists discovered the largest seagrass meadow in the world off Australia’s coast. It was created by repeatedly cloning its own DNA.
Genetic analysis revealed that the underwater green seagrass fields are one organism, covering 70 miles (180 kilometers). It has made copies of itself over 4,500 year.
The research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society, B on Wednesday.
Jane Edgeloe, co-author of the study and a marine biologist at University of Western Australia, stated that scientists confirmed the existence of the meadow as a single organism through DNA comparisons of seagrass shoots from the bed.
Many plants and animals can reproduce sexually. Cloning an organism can have disadvantages, such as increased susceptibility for diseases. However, it can also create “hopeful monsters” through rapid growth.
Scientists call the meadow Poseidon’s ribbonweed “the most widely distributed known clone” and it covers an area greater than Washington.