The Insane Biology of: The Venus Flytrap

Credits:
Narrator/Writer: Stephanie Sammann

Imagery courtesy of Getty Images

References:

[McAppleWar]

Normal plants: I live in harmony with animals and sometimes even cooperate with them.

Venus fly trap: PEACE WAS NEVER AN OPTION

[jamesblake]

I live in the Venus flytraps range in North Carolina. I’ve been able to play with them in my whole life . Unfortunately the Carolina bay near my house they lived in was filled in and a Walmart was built there. Habitat loss is a real danger to our wild Venus flytraps. Just thought I’d share that

[zyansheep]

Woh I can't wait to learn about the biology of venus fly traps so I can genetically engineer my own carnivorous plants

[CountCocofang]

The part about the mutated DNA is insane. During the process of evolution, some of these plants basically repurposed and readjusted their basic plant tool-kit for a drastically different purpose. The fundamental working remains similar, clearly establishing a link to the original version, yet the execution and result are completely new.

[geoffrygifari]

Nature now: meat-eating plants
Nature 1.000.000 years in the future: *photosynthetic humans*

[geoffrygifari]

carnivorous plants:

1. have *chemical timer*
2. have a control system to know when to close the trap (similar to nerves?)
3. can *move* the traps (like muscle! how do they do this?)
4. can digest and absorb small animals (while not digesting their own tissue!)

damn...

[javiernicolasbustamantecor]

What I find most interesting of all of this is how the underlying mechanisms for carnivory are rooted-pun intended-in the genomes of many plants, since they're usually used for defense against pathogens and herbivorous insects. With how common knowledge carnivorous plants are, it really surprises me that they aren't used as examples of how evolution works with what it has. Also, makes one realise how plants are very much alive and "aware" of the world surrounding them

[GARBO]

Imagine if 7000 years from now there are massive redwood trees that disguise themselves as Huts so they can kill humans.

[JackRackam]

Now how long until they turn into crabs?

[lasercraft]

Imagine being a bug, minding your own business walking along a leaf... But then the ground folds in, trapping you, and your body starts melting. Horrifying.

[akernis]

Loved this video! I have always found carnivorous plants fascinating had had several venus flytraps. But I didn´t know how they actually worked or evolved. Thank you for the video ^^

[geoffrygifari]

being a 19th century naturalist: *feeding cheese to plants*

[penguintoast]

You’re awesome. I find real engineering’s content interesting but it’s yours which inspires me to become a genetic engineer

[WHiT_SHADW]

Never realized the fly traps were native to the Carolinas, I always thought they were a "tropical" plant and were from far away places.

[carlramirez]

The thing I'm more surprised about is that in only 70 million years, Drosera, Dionaea and Nepenthes diverged from a common ancestor and spread to every continent except Antarctica. These plants have very specific growing conditions, and generally don't get dispersed by animals.

[Frostyflytrap]

Incredible show of convergent evolution with those pitcher plants, I wonder what other pressures our changing world will put on plants that would lead them to carnivory.

[edraac_]

Yes, an “Insane Biology of” carnivorous plants! I’m an amateur CPs grower on my free time and a fan of the channel, it’s the perfect combination. Though on 1:38, aren’t waterwheels’ (aldrovanda) traps also snap traps? I believe bladderworts (utricularia) are the ones with suction traps.

[yensid]

600 species of carnivorous plants? Wow! And how did I never know that Venus Fly Trap & Pitcher Plants were both native to the US, I had always assumed they were exotic tropical plants. This was a fascinating & informative video 👍

[webbess]

It's nice to be a large mammal. Imagine having to fear plants.

[dubleyew]

Im so excited for this new installment