BIOLOGICAL ALCHEMY !

[PZ Myers]

In article <7m33o3$n6t$1 at nnrp1.deja.com>, rmcelwaine at briefcase.com wrote:

>                             BIOLOGICAL ALCHEMY !
>
>                       ( ANOTHER Form of COLD FUSION ! )
>
>              ( ALTERNATIVE Heavy Element Creation in Universe ! )
>
>               A very simple experiment can demonstrate (PROVE) the
>          FACT of " BIOLOGICAL TRANSMUTATIONS " (reactions like Mg + O
>          --> Ca, Si + C --> Ca, K + H --> Ca, N2 --> CO, etc.), as
>          described in the BOOK " Biological Transmutations " by Louis
>          Kervran, [1972 Edition is BEST.], and in Chapter 17 of the
>          book "THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS " by Peter Tompkins and
>          Christopher Bird, 1973:
>
>               (1) Obtain a good sample of plant seeds, all of the same
>                   kind.  [Some kinds might work better that others.]
>
>               (2) Divide the sample into two groups of equal weight
>                   and number.
>
>               (3) Sprout one group in distilled water on filter paper
>                   for three or four weeks.
>
>               (4) Separately incinerate both groups.
>
>               (5) Weigh the residue from each group.  [The residue of
>                   the sprouted group will usually weigh at least
>                   SEVERAL PERCENT MORE than the other group.]

Yes indeedy. 

6 CO2 + 6 H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6 O2

They make sugar from air, water, and sunlight. It's called photosynthesis.
Ever hear of it?

>
>               (6) Analyze quantitatively the residue of each group for
>                   mineral content.  [ Some of the mineral atoms of the
>                   sprouted group have been TRANSMUTED into heavier
>                   mineral elements by FUSING with atoms of oxygen,
>                   hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, etc..]
>

Nonsense. Analyze 'em quantitatively, and you won't find any surprises. If
transmutation were going on, you'd have cooked vegetables instead of growing
sprouts.

[snip]

-- 
PZ Myers