Scientists were able to germinate the seed of an extinct tree mentioned in the Bible (1 photo)
An international team of scientists has managed to grow an ancient tree of the Commiphora genus from a seed discovered in the Judean Desert back in the 1980s. Researchers suggest that this plant may be mentioned in the Bible. The seed lay in the ground for about a thousand years, which opens up new prospects for studying the ancient flora of arid regions. 
The journal Communications Biology describes the entire process: from archaeological excavations to the emergence of a sprout. Radiocarbon analysis showed that the age of the seed is between 993 and 1202 AD. The seed was transferred to the Israeli Center for Sustainable Agriculture, where it was able to germinate.
The seed was pre-treated with solutions to stimulate growth and planted in sterile soil. After five weeks, the first sprout emerged. The plant's affiliation with the Commiphora genus was confirmed through DNA analysis. It turned out that its closest relatives are in South Africa, which surprised scientists, since Commiphora is usually found in Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula.
Researchers also suggested a connection between this plant and the biblical resin "tsori", which had healing properties. Unlike other Commiphora species, this plant contains almost no aromatic substances, but unique glycolipids were found in its composition, which may have medical applications.
The tree, named Shiba, has already grown to three meters, giving scientists the opportunity to study extinct species. Scientists continue to study how the seed ended up in the cave, hypothesizing that it could have been carried by birds, animals or people.
