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How plant life first moved from water to land

By a fast flowing river in a German forest, Barbara Melkonian carefully scrapes off miniscule samples of algae that could provide clues to one of evolution’s greatest mysteries. Melkonian and her husband, Michael Melkonian, are investigating how plants first moved from water to land - giving shape to the natural world as we know it today. The group revealed that genes from bacteria were transferred to algae through a process called horizontal gene transfer. The bacterial genes helped the algae develop the ability to withstand dryer, terrestrial environments. Zhang Nini speaks to the scientists behind the studies, which are part of an international project to sequence the genomes of more than 10,000 plant species. We also hear from Dr Liu Xin, a leading geneticist in Beijing, who explains how the project can help conservation efforts.