From ancient pit, new life and hope grow

From ancient pit, new life and hope growIn unassuming pot, a 2,000-year-old date palm seed from Masada germinates and grows. Scientists are hoping that the plant, likely the Judean date palm called the 'tree of life,' is a female and, when mature in 2010, will bear fruit so that plant can be reintroduced as food crop for harsh, dry climates.

By Amy Maxmen

Science magazine 2008-06-12

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Categories: ARTS, IDEAS & TRENDS, History & Archaeology

Index: Bar-Ilan University, Barhee, Bible, biblical, Bruce Smith, Cary Fowler, date palm, Dead Sea, DNA, Egyptian date palm, Global Crop Diversity Trust, Hayani, Iraqi date palm, Los Angeles Times, Masada, Medjool, Mesopotamia, Methuselah, Mordechai Kislev, Moroccan date palm, Norway, Paul Gepts, Phoenix dactylifera L., Smithsonian Institution, Svalbard Global Seed Vault, T. rex, University of California-Davis