In the Loop: January 19, 2010 Archive

Introducing the amazing photosynthesizing sea slug!

Posted at 2:39 PM on January 19, 2010 by Sanden Totten (0 Comments)

This month scientists announced some new findings on what may be the world's first "plant-imal", an animal that works like a plant. The species in question in elysia chlorotica, a green sea slug found in Northeastern U.S. and parts of Canada. It has the uncanny ability to steal the genes from the plants it eats and use their chloroplast to start turning sunlight into energy.

This amazing little creature inspired In The Loop's own Sanden Totten to pick up a guitar and sing this song. (This tune was part of ITL's latest podcast)

Photo via PNAS

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