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Simplepowa
In Pursuit of Knowledge


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 4,310
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Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms
#18677267 - 08/08/13 10:16 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms
Catherine Griffin First Posted: Aug 06, 2013 12:53 PM EDT
Hallucinogenic "magic" mushrooms are well known for their ability to affect those who eat them. Yet researchers have long wondered exactly where these mushrooms fit in the fungal family tree. Now, scientists have uncovered the evolutionary past of this fungi, revealing a bit more about them and their potential use in medicinal applications.
Hallucinogenic mushrooms have been used for centuries in rituals, medicinally or just recreationally. In fact, ancient people in Central America used to actively ingest these mushrooms for the extrasensory perceptual effects it gave them in order to better assess the problems faced by their societies. That said, scientists officially discovered them in the 19th century. At that point, researchers delved into the mushrooms' taxonomy, biochemistry and historical usage. Now, scientists are learning a bit more about how they evolved.
In order to examine the mushrooms a bit more closely, the researchers employed new molecular and computational techniques. They produced the first multi-gene evaluation of the evolutionary development of Psilocybe, the genus of small mushrooms known for their hallucinogenic properties. This work is a major step when it comes to classifying and naming "magic" mushrooms.
So what did the scientists find? In the past, researchers found that the species of Psilocybe did not commonly descend from a single ancestor. Because of this, the hallucinogenic species were typically separated from their non-hallucinogenic relatives. This new study, though, places the two separate groups into different families: the Psilocybe (family Hymenogastraceae) and the Deconica (family Strophariaceae s.str).
It's likely that the mushrooms evolved independently instead of possessing a common ancestor. Another option is that they underwent several evolutionary losses, probably for ecological reasons. That said, the species of Psilocybe are united to some degree due to the fact that they possess the psychedelic compound psilocybin and other secondary metabolites, or products of metabolism.
The findings reveal a little bit more about how these mushrooms evolved and could tell scientists a little bit more about their properties. The work is important for understanding more about these mushrooms, which could aid current research concerning their medicinal uses.
The findings are published in the journal Botany.
©2013 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/8643/20130806/scientists-uncover-evolutionary-past-hallucinogenic-magic-mushrooms.htm?fb_action_ids=422053161236545&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%22422053161236545%22%3A511267555613761}&action_type_map={%22422053161236545%22%3A%22og.likes%22}&action_ref_map=[]
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Carl Sagan - "Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people." --- Robert Pirsig - "When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion." --- Brian Cox - "[One] problem with today’s world is that everyone believes they have the right to express their opinion AND have others listen to it. The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense."
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obi
Du Bois


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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Simplepowa]
#18677296 - 08/08/13 10:25 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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That picture could do with a higher f-stop, A-rock.
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To live is to fly
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Futuresight
Mind Mage



Registered: 01/19/13
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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: obi]
#18677418 - 08/08/13 10:59 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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This is awesome! One step closer, eh?
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Nature Boy
Stranger than most



Registered: 07/09/07
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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Simplepowa]
#18677584 - 08/08/13 11:41 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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Simplepowa:
You've been rocking the Shroomery News Service with some excellent articles of late! Thanks for all the effort, man. Another gem. 
N.B.
-------------------- All submitted posts under this user name are works of pure fiction or outright lies. Any information, statement, or assertion contained therein should be considered pure unadulterated bullshit. Note well: Sorry, but I do not answer PM's unless you are a long-time trusted friend. If you have a question, ask it in the appropriate thread.
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Simplepowa
In Pursuit of Knowledge


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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Nature Boy]
#18677613 - 08/08/13 11:49 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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I'm trying my best, quite occupied these past days but oh well, I'm glad you enjoy what I'm able to find and share 
These warm words always give me this little push to continue 
Much love
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Carl Sagan - "Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people." --- Robert Pirsig - "When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion." --- Brian Cox - "[One] problem with today’s world is that everyone believes they have the right to express their opinion AND have others listen to it. The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense."
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Nature Boy
Stranger than most



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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Simplepowa]
#18677667 - 08/08/13 11:59 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Simplepowa said: I'm trying my best, quite occupied these past days but oh well, I'm glad you enjoy what I'm able to find and share 
These warm words always give me this little push to continue 
Much love 
Well in that case, here's another bit o' love. 
Keep it up, man!!!
N.B.
-------------------- All submitted posts under this user name are works of pure fiction or outright lies. Any information, statement, or assertion contained therein should be considered pure unadulterated bullshit. Note well: Sorry, but I do not answer PM's unless you are a long-time trusted friend. If you have a question, ask it in the appropriate thread.
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Nature Boy]
#18678630 - 08/08/13 03:00 PM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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So what exactly does this mean? That psilocybin is just a mutation that could potentially happen to any evolving species?
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Magick
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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Nature Boy]
#18678632 - 08/08/13 03:00 PM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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I've always theorized that psilocybes and amanitas are actually not far from each other on the evolutionary chart. My reasoning is that psilocin and amatoxins share a relatively similar indolic center. Psilocin is a 4-hydroxy-DMT, whereas amatoxins are a class of substances with a DMT or 5-hydroxy-DMT center, with a good number of other proteins and groups attached to it.
My thought is that in the psilocybes, a gene which is responsible for the binding of these other groups to a DMT-like intermediate to form the amatoxins is absent or turned off, and thus instead of the fungus forming the amatoxin, it instead forms the psilocin (and subsequently psilocybin).
In normal circumstances this may have been evolutionarily useless, but with mankind finding the usefulness in the effects of the psilocybes, they may have helped the genus to prosper. As to why this gene might have been turned off, one theory might be that since certain psilocybes (cubensis, mexicana) depend on cows to spread and prosper, if they did produce amatoxins which would likely be deadly to the cows themselves, they would be unable to prosper as well. Somewhere down the line, perhaps the mushrooms with the gene turned off were better able to prosper since they were less likely to kill their host. Psilocin/psilocybin in this case would have just been an accidental mutation, which again likely lasted thanks to mankind.
But that's all theory.
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Tmethyl
Smear in the shale


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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Magick]
#18679430 - 08/08/13 05:38 PM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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That pic must be old, Alan takes way better pics now
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Phannypants
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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Tmethyl]
#18682070 - 08/09/13 09:17 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Article said: This new study, though, places the two separate groups into different families: the Psilocybe (family Hymenogastraceae) and the Deconica (family Strophariaceae s.str). It's likely that the mushrooms evolved independently instead of possessing a common ancestor.
Awesome, convergent evolution of psychedelic effects.. I like this alot, though it's probably a by-product. pretty awesome
-------------------- Try everything twice, first may just be a one off shit time
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Liverwort
Man About Town


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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Simplepowa]
#18684966 - 08/09/13 09:58 PM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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Can anyone find the actual study, as published by the journal, Botany? I searched for 'psilocybe' within that publication, but this study didn't come up.
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Nature Boy
Stranger than most



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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Liverwort]
#18686022 - 08/10/13 06:11 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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Here ya go:
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjb-2013-0070#.UgYtyW1YThJ
Just click "full text" at the top, or "pdf" if you want to open and save it.
N.B.
-------------------- All submitted posts under this user name are works of pure fiction or outright lies. Any information, statement, or assertion contained therein should be considered pure unadulterated bullshit. Note well: Sorry, but I do not answer PM's unless you are a long-time trusted friend. If you have a question, ask it in the appropriate thread.
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roquet
Expat tippler


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Re: Scientists Uncover Evolutionary Past of Hallucinogenic 'Magic' Mushrooms [Re: Magick]
#18686212 - 08/10/13 08:07 AM (10 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Magick said: Psilocin/psilocybin in this case would have just been an accidental mutation, which again likely lasted thanks to mankind.
Interesting idea. But I find it hard to believe that psilocyin did not originate as a poison to dissuade animals from eating the mushrooms.
On the other hand it's hard to explain why some mushrooms evolved deadly poisons while others went for non-deadly. If spreading spores as far as possible is the aim, then a poison that makes the animal quickly vomit or defecate (while it's still in a habitable area) would be effective but killing it would be less so.
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