Why aren't plants self-sufficient ?

Why aren't plants self-sufficient ?
Andre Willers
11 Jun 2011

Synopsis :
Efficiency . Certain functions like nitrogen concentration , diurnal energy generation and pollination were outsourced to more efficient intermediators like Your Motile Animals . (Like you and me)

Discussion :
Orbital-locked extrasolar planets will have some very aggressive plants , that have never even considered vegetarianism .

Root on the trot .

More mundane , nitrogen fixation has very old genetic roots .
See "NewScientist 7 May 2011 p 8 Food Crops to fix fertilizer from the air"
Genetical links with fungi .
In other words , all plants had this capability , but it was suppressed .
Note : not lost . Genetic engineering techniques are reactivating some of these old pathways .

The question is why they suppressed them in the first place .
Is it such a good idea to reactivate them ?

Remember , Humans are one of the animals that evolved as a result of the evolutionary interest plants have in having motiles in a relatively low and fluctuating energy environment .

Control mechanisms :
As previously discussed , Non-Angiosperm systems forms a Reserve in Gaia . Major fluctuations in fungi-spores will lead to Bad Things unless you know exactly what you are doing .

Terminator genes .
Much as I hate to admit it , nitrogen fixation genes have to be controlled . If not , the tipping point will move against motiles (humans , animals ,insects ,etc)

These are not conscious systems . If you make a feedback mistake , you are extinct .
(Plants have a small sense humor.)

Why the suppression of nitrogen-fixation genes ?
Evolutionary reasons .
1.Suppose all plants had the genes .(Like they had)
2.They die
3.Nitrogen , energy rich molecules drift downstream , to fuel competitors .
4.Motiles will use less energy , plus a huge bonus in reproductions stakes .
5.There is a balance . The Dear Reader can calculate it . If you are on the wrong side of it , you will not fare well .
Even on the short term .

Immobile motiles are severely penalized .
Usually extinction .
This is built in at a genetic level .

Music gives an illusion of moving at a genetic level (compression waves)
A slow cheat .

Amusing :
Problems with lack of gravity in spaceflight can be countered by heavy soundwaves . Local acceleration waves , which can be biased to give a pseudo-gravity at cellular level .
Basically heavy rock , coming or going .
Even terrestrial athlete training . The micro-tubules are very sensitive .

No wonder plants like music .
It is one of the few ways they can travel and experience new things .
But they are considerably slower .
From their viewpoint , we all have unbearably squeaky voices .
Lower the speed of transmission and frequency .
Trivial .
Compensate .

You might even convince them to increase yields , or kill pesky pests .
Intestinal flora ?
A conversation with your gut should fall under the Protection of Information Act (unless your spouse has court order , forcing the bacteria to divulge their recent activities . The mind boggles)

I would not mind a conversation with Garlic .
Not long on the meaning of Life , but trenchant on the meaning of death .

Plants like space travel .
Halfway to Jupiter you will have a plant pop up and ask "Are we there yet ?"
That is why they cultivated motiles in the first place . Slow does not mean stupid .
And it is a distributed identity .

Plant-Human Interaction :
SETI
Talk to your gut as if it is a non-human intelligence with slow communication problems .
Drum "shave and haircut " on your stomach and the bacteria will understand
Try it .
It actually works ,

Belief is immaterial

Andre