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There is an interesting article about plants and suicide. I am normally against any types of termination of life, however when it comes with abortion, I see the point of tactical abortion. Savvy plants commit suicide when threatened by predators or disease By CHER THORNHILL FOR MAILONLINE UPDATED: 11:58 GMT, 24 July 2009 View comments It is widely seen as a human invention borne from our higher intelligence. But according to Austrian scientists, plants have long been equipped to commit suicide. When under threat from animals or infection, they can deliberately kill off parts of themselves as part of a longer-term protective strategy, experts from Vienna University say. Tactical suicide: An infected plant kills off parts of itself, seen as withered spots, to stop the spread of the disease In the case of infection, the death of the infected part of the plant meant that the infection also dies out with the part of the plant chosen to be killed off. Another reason plants sacrifice parts of themselves is to minimise their profile when struck by disease so plant eating mammals or insects foraging for food move on and look elsewhere. Study leader Andreas Bachmair, from the department of biochemistry and cell biology at Vienna University, said: 'It is often a wrong assumption that immense heat or ozone kills a plant. 'Most of the time plants create a special programme themselves to save what can be saved. 'Despite the voluntary death of certain parts, it remains alive in its core.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1201909/Tactical-plants-commit-suicide-threatened-predators-disease.html#ixzz3JGMNfjzh