“We can see that flowering plants go back about 150 or 160 million years, but our oldest fossil is only about 120 or 130. If we could get a really great well-preserved fossil about 150 million years old, the prediction is that we would see a dicot.”
–Claude dePamphilis, professor of biology
DePamphilis hosted the final Research Unplugged conversation of the spring season in the gallery of Penn State's Downtown Theatre on Wednesday, April 22. His discussion of “Primordial Plants: Lessons from Earth’s Oldest Flowers” included hands-on analyses by the audience of Forsythia, Magnolia, and Alstroemeria flowers. A podcast of the event will be available on iTunesU and the Research/Penn State Web site http://www.rps.psu.edu/ on Monday, April 27.
Research Unplugged is an informal lecture series hosted by Penn State's Office of Research Publications and held at noon Wednesdays in Penn State's Downtown Theatre Center. The afternoon begins with a brief introduction of the topic, followed by an open floor for questions, comments and discussion. The event is free to the public. Complimentary coffee and light refreshments are served. For information, visit http://www.rps.psu.edu/unplugged/.