All of Earth ’s life originally started out as bacteria . That ’s why an English scientist used different varieties of the microorganisms to create a new cover song for Charles Darwin’sOn the Origin of Species , The Guardianreports .
Dr. Simon Park is a senior lecturer in molecular biology at England ’s Surrey University and conservator ofC - MOULD , one of the human race ’s largest accumulation of microorganisms for artistic use . Park used a bacteria that produces cellulose — the pith that makes up most of a plant ’s jail cell wall , and is used to make paper and cotton — to " develop " a new front for Darwin ’s germinal treatise on evolutionary biota . He then used a collection of colored bacterium to " illustrate " the cover .
" The pages select a hebdomad to uprise as a loggerheaded ( 1 - to-2 centimeter ) jelly - like wet bacterial mat and then I dry this over a time period of two day , to remove the water , and to make the paper - like material , " ParktoldNewsweek . " The book has six pages but only the cover is illustrate with bacteria at the moment . "
Park believes that his leger project is the first to be made entirely from bacteria . He latterly showcased his improper work at the2016 Edinburgh International Science Festival , which end on April 10 . attendant were “ fascinate ” by the book cover song , Park says , because they usually only associate bacterium with disease — not creativity .
The unconventional take is something that even Darwin may have been fascinated by . The radical scientist did n’t live long enough to realize the importance of bacterium , which had just been get wind during his lifetime , Park tellsThe Guardian . " Had he known about them , then they would have been an important part of his evolutionary story , " he says .
[ h / tThe Guardian ]
