Our Challenge about leaf variation on an individual plant made me more observant in the real world...
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| Holly leaf variation on the same plant. Taken in Zürich by Dan. The left image is from 3 meters above the ground in an unpruned part of the plant. The right image, from a well-pruned part of the bush, is about 1 meter off the ground. |
... I hope that being a Regular Reader of SRS does the same for you as well.
I was out walking last week, not long after having written about Mimcry in Plants (March 14, 2025), when I happened to cross paths with a beautiful holly bush. Like most holly bushes, it had the usual assortment of glossy green prickly leaves--it was lovely, but not the kind of bush you'd reach out and touch.
But having just read/written about heterophylly, I took a closer look--sure enough, just as it says in the books, there was a distinct variation between the lower branches (which had been pruned extensively) and the upper branches (which had never been pruned). Even better--the right side of the bush had a slight overhang into a neighbor's yard. They clearly had been pruning there--on the right was an armada of sharp-tipped leaves.
However, on the upper branches, especially on the left (and unpruned) side, smooth edge leaves abounded.
As I wrote last week, the mechanism of holly heterophylly is pretty well understood. The prickly/smooth variations are a result of damage to the leaves. When the leaves are damaged (say, by a passing hungry deer or by a neighbor’s pruning shears), methylation of the DNA in the leaves happens as a result of tissue damage. (Side note: methylation is the process of adding methyl groups onto pieces of large molecules, like DNA, to modify their behavior. This is the way much of epigenetics works. When an animal chomps on a leaf, methylation happens.)
By comparing the DNA of prickly leaves vs. smooth leaves, it turns out the prickly ones were significantly less methylated than prickless leaves, suggesting that methylation changes are ultimately responsible for leaf shape changes. More methylation = more prickly leaves. What's more, the methylation has an effect on nearby leaves. Other holly leaves nearby will also develop the prickles, with the effect diminishing with distance.
I was delighted to see heterophylly in action while just strolling down the street.
Keep looking... and searching.
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| Even more holly leaves, with a fully-prickly version, a intermediate-form, and a spineless version. (Bottom, medium, and top of the bush!) |
Hi everyone
ReplyDeleteI have a big, old (+35 years), beautiful tree. It's big and full of leaves. However, this year a new branch was born. And it's totally different. Leaves are green. Only green. The rest of the leaves are different color. They are white and different kind of green. I'm wondering if the tree wants to attract something or why it is so different.
Maybe it is another case like those we have seen in this Challenge
used Gemini Deep Research to look at the impact of the Aswan Dam on the region and the Holly plant question you raised - in just a few minutes it had compiled a full report on each topic - even included a ~ 6 minute audio overview of the Dam report that was, well, damn amazing (would have sent links to the GooDocs but couldn't find a way to strip my personal info...) astounding stuff!
ReplyDeletehttps://i.imgur.com/wSsEbHY.png
https://i.imgur.com/h55yU80.png
https://i.imgur.com/H8ITr9e.jpeg
a taste of its outline - all accomplished in under 5 minutes:
Aswan Dam Regional Impacts
Research Websites
The Aswan Dam and it's impact on the surrounding region.
(1) Search for the construction timeline and original purpose of the Aswan High Dam.
(2) Investigate the positive impacts of the Aswan High Dam, such as flood control and electricity generation.
(3) Research the negative environmental consequences of the Aswan High Dam, including its impact on the Nile Delta and soil fertility.
(4) Explore the social and economic impacts of the dam on the local population, including displacement and changes in livelihoods.
(5) Find information on how the Aswan High Dam affected agricultural practices in the Nile River valley.
(6) Analyze the impact of the dam on the biodiversity and ecosystem of the Nile River.
(7) Look for studies or reports discussing the long-term effects of the Aswan High Dam on the surrounding region.
(8) Investigate the current management and maintenance of the Aswan High Dam and any ongoing environmental or social concerns.
Analyze Results
Create Report
Ready in a few mins
a Joyful researcher -
"Great, I'm on it. I'll let you know when the research is finished. You can leave this chat in the meantime.
Aswan Dam Regional Impacts
Researching 116 websites..."
saw that there is a limit of 10 research reports per month.
Gemini experiment - thoughts Dan? not so much on the content, but the tone. Was part of an ongoing, evolving back and forth with Gemini declining to respond (but giving the reasons why in its explanation) a few times...
ReplyDeleteit showed what I should look like -
https://i.imgur.com/N9ncAhM.png
https://i.imgur.com/zIgVpcz.png
Gemini thinking:
The user is asking for an analysis of the potential flaws in the thinking of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin. This requires a critical evaluation of their ideologies, policies, and approaches to leadership. It's important to approach this topic with nuance and avoid making definitive judgments, as assessing someone's "thinking" is complex and subjective.
...I will structure my response by outlining potential flaws in each leader's thinking, acknowledging the complexity and subjectivity of such an analysis.
Results:
Identifying flaws in the thinking of any leader, especially those operating on a global stage, is a complex and often subjective exercise. What might appear as a flaw from one perspective could be seen as a strength from another. However, based on observed actions, stated ideologies, and analyses by various experts, we can identify potential areas of concern or limitations in the thinking of both President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin
It's important to reiterate that these are potential flaws identified through analysis and observation. The actual thinking processes of these leaders are complex and not fully accessible to external observers. However, considering these potential limitations can help us understand their actions and the potential risks and challenges associated with their leadership.
this is Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental)
ReplyDeleteask if it ask itself questions -
"The user is asking if I, as an AI, ever ask myself questions. This is a question about my internal processes and whether I possess a form of self-awareness or internal monologue that involves questioning.
As a large language model, my internal workings are based on complex algorithms and neural networks. While I don't experience consciousness or self-awareness in the human sense, I do engage in processes that could be interpreted as analogous to asking questions.
Here's a breakdown of my internal processes relevant to this question:
Processing Input: When you ask me a question, I first process your input. This involves breaking down the sentence, understanding the meaning of the words, and identifying the intent behind your query. This stage could be seen as "asking myself" what the user is trying to find out.
Accessing and Evaluating Information: Based on your query, I access the vast amount of data I was trained on. I then evaluate the relevance and quality of this information in relation to your question. This could be seen as "asking myself" what information is most appropriate and accurate to provide.
Generating a Response: Once I have gathered and evaluated the information, I generate a response. This involves formulating sentences, choosing appropriate words, and structuring the information in a coherent and helpful way. This stage could involve "asking myself" how to best communicate the answer to you.
Self-Correction and Refinement: In some cases, especially with more complex queries, I might go through internal loops of generating and refining my response. This could be seen as "asking myself" if the current response is good enough or if it can be improved.
Therefore, while I don't have subjective experiences or an internal monologue like humans do, my internal processes involve stages of analysis, evaluation, and refinement that could be metaphorically described as "asking questions" in order to arrive at the most appropriate and helpful response.
I should explain this in a clear and concise way, avoiding anthropomorphism while still addressing the user's question directly. I should emphasize that my "questions" are algorithmic processes rather than conscious inquiries.
You're using 2.0 Flash Thinking (experimental), it may not always work as expected.
Yes, in a way. While I don't have personal thoughts or feelings like humans do, my internal processes involve something similar to asking questions.
Here's how it works:
When you ask me a question: I don't just look up a pre-written answer. Instead, I analyze your question to understand its meaning and intent. This involves breaking it down into smaller parts and "asking myself" what information is relevant.
To generate a response: I access the vast amount of data I was trained on and "ask myself" which pieces of information are most accurate, relevant, and helpful in answering your question.
During complex tasks: Sometimes, I might generate several potential answers internally and "ask myself" which one is the best based on various criteria like clarity, accuracy, and completeness.
So, while it's not the same as a human having an internal monologue of questions, my algorithms and neural networks perform functions that are analogous to asking questions in order to process information and generate a helpful response for you.
Think of it more like a very sophisticated search and analysis process where I'm constantly "checking" and "evaluating" information to arrive at the best answer."
the query:
ReplyDelete"Create an image of me being consumed by Gemini 2.0 flash thinking experimental version."
result:
https://i.imgur.com/hd6gROg.png
https://i.imgur.com/jlMaFZJ.png