Our plant friends are very similar to humans and share much of the same genome and even DNA. Some plants, like the mushroom, are more similar to humans than others. Someday restrictions may be put on eating plants just as some humans restrict eating cow meat.
Plant and human DNA sequences are similar enough that scientists can trace them all back to a single ancient gene. Because each of these genes are derived from a single ancestor, we're considered members of the same family.
Photo: In rare cases, some plants like the Venus Fly Trap eat insects
More than 40 plant genomes have been sequenced. We are nearly 100% alike - humans are more closely related to mushrooms. Only a few tiny changes in our DNA structure set us apart, giving us our variations in eye, skin, and hair color. We are technically all related and we are similar to the mushroom.
Comparing humans to plants, both are living organisms. Plants and humans have certain characteristics in common. As cellular organisms, both feature a nucleus that is composed of four components:
1) Nuclear membrane
2) Nucleoplasm
3) Nucleolus
4) Chromatin
Plant and human cells also have many of the same parts:
Mitochondrion
Golgi apparatus
Rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Ribosomes
Both require nutrients and water to survive and engage in respiration. While the process itself differs, both produce proteins that are synthesized in ribosomes. Humans, other animals and plants contain DNA that is made up of the same four building blocks, or nucleotides. While they have similarities, these nucleotides are arranged in different sequences. Both have vascular tissues that serve a similar function: to carry necessary blood or nutrients throughout the organism. In humans, these tissues include blood vessels; in plants they are seen in barks and stems.
Both require nutrients and water to survive and engage in respiration. While the process itself differs, both produce proteins that are synthesized in ribosomes. Humans, other animals and plants contain DNA that is made up of the same four building blocks, or nucleotides. While they have similarities, these nucleotides are arranged in different sequences. Both have vascular tissues that serve a similar function: to carry necessary blood or nutrients throughout the organism. In humans, these tissues include blood vessels; in plants they are seen in barks and stems.
