as a Safe Food: Suppression of Cyanotoxin-Related Genes and Cyanotoxin Production in Its Symbiont, .

The floating freshwater fern is the only plant that retains an endocyanobiont, (aka ), during its sexual and asexual reproduction. The increased interest in as a potential source of food and its unique evolutionary history have raised questions about its cyanotoxin content and genome. Cyanotoxins are potent toxins synthesized by cyanobacteria which have an anti-herbivore effect but have also been linked to neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, liver and kidney failure, muscle paralysis, and other severe health issues.

Origin and Evolution of the Superorganism.

is the only plant with a co-evolving nitrogen-fixing (diazotrophic) cyanobacterial symbiont (cyanobiont), , resulting from whole-genome duplication (WGD) 80 million years ago in 's ancestor. Additional genes from the WGD resulted in genetic, biochemical, and morphological changes in the plant that enabled the transmission of the cyanobiont to successive generations via its megaspores. The resulting permanent symbiosis and co-evolution led to the loss, downregulation, or conversion of non-essential genes to pseudogenes in the cyanobiont, changing it from a free-living organism to an obligate symbiont.

Phytoremediation Potential of Azolla filiculoides: Uptake and Toxicity of Seven Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) at Environmentally Relevant Water Concentrations.

Environmental contamination of aquatic systems by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has generated significant health concerns. Remediation of contaminated sites such as the fire-fighting emergency training grounds that use aqueous film-forming foams is a high priority. Phytoremediation may help play a part in removing PFAS from such contaminated waters.

Episodic fresh surface waters in the Eocene Arctic Ocean.

It has been suggested, on the basis of modern hydrology and fully coupled palaeoclimate simulations, that the warm greenhouse conditions that characterized the early Palaeogene period (55-45 Myr ago) probably induced an intensified hydrological cycle with precipitation exceeding evaporation at high latitudes. Little field evidence, however, has been available to constrain oceanic conditions in the Arctic during this period. Here we analyse Palaeogene sediments obtained during the Arctic Coring Expedition, showing that large quantities of the free-floating fern Azolla grew and reproduced in the Arctic Ocean by the onset of the middle Eocene epoch (approximately 50 Myr ago).