Re: OT: Plant cell biology

Neil: The various molecules such as xanthophylls, carotenes and anthocyanin have multiple uses besides making attractive flowers. The first two trap certain wavelengths of light more efficiently than chlorophyll and can transfer this energy to chlorophyll which than uses it to store this light energy in the form of sugar. Anthocyanin is a form of sugar storage. Stored sugar may help protect some cells against frost damage (cell sap antifreeze) besides being stored energy for respiration. All molecules in cells generally have effects on many different systems. The argument is still out as to whether some genes are just junk molecules or whether they actually serve purposes we don't as yet understand. 

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