Genetic Line of Succession


I just got back from Computers in Libraries down in DC, and I'll have lots more to say about that, but on the flight back, I had this crazy thought. First, read this for a little background on where I'm coming from: The Genographic Project. I mentioned their research before on my blog, because I actually ponied up and bought the kit. It's fascinating stuff. Then come back, and read my post.

Got it? Bottom line, since genetic mutations occur at a consistent rate over long periods of time, you can compare the DNA from two different "beings", and determine roughly the number of years since those two DNA strands diverged. So, all humans alive today can trace their genetic lineage to a common male African ancestor who lived around 60,000 years ago.

As I was sitting on the plane, I'm thinking, ok, let's keep going back, how far back do we need to go to find a common primate ancestor, a common mammal ancestor, a common land animal ancestor, a common animal ancestor, a common ancestor of plants and animals?

Then I had the craziest thought: Let's say some freak virus wastes all animal life on the planet, completely eradicates all animals, lizards, fish, sea anemones, coral, rabbits, birds, all of them. Only plants survive. The question, and it's so stupid, I laughed out loud as soon as I formulated it: according to the British rule of succession, which plant gets to be the King of England?

Posted: Thu - April 19, 2007 at 08:37 AM      

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