Ginkgo biloba, often called a “living fossil,” is a marvel of resilience. This ancient tree has endured over 290 million years of Earth’s tumultuous history, from mass extinctions to nuclear devastation. With its unique fan-shaped leaves and unparalleled ability to adapt, the ginkgo is a symbol of survival.
Dating back to the Permian period, before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, Ginkgo biloba has outlasted catastrophic events, including the Permian-Triassic extinction, which eradicated 96% of marine species and 75% of terrestrial life. Fossil evidence shows that ginkgo leaves have remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of millions of years, exemplifying evolutionary stability. After surviving the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, ginkgos were reduced to small populations in China by the end of the Pleistocene. Their survival was aided by Buddhist monks, who cultivated them for their beauty and medicinal properties.
The Hiroshima Miracle
On August 6, 1945, when the atomic bomb “Little Boy” devastated Hiroshima, temperatures soared to 7,000°F within three seconds, annihilating everything within a two-mile radius. Buildings melted, and the city turned to ash. Yet, six ginkgo trees growing just a mile from the hypocenter endured the blast. Stripped of leaves and charred, these trees remarkably regrew within months, earning the title of “A-bombed trees” or hibakujumoku.
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This resilience can be attributed to the ginkgo’s biology. Its deep root systems and thick bark protected its core from the heat and radiation, enabling it to regenerate. These trees stand today as living monuments, symbolizing hope and endurance amid destruction.
Science of Longevity
Ginkgo biloba’s resilience is rooted in its genetics and physiology. Its genome, mapped in 2016, revealed a complexity of 10.6 billion base pairs—three times that of humans. This genetic wealth equips the tree with potent defense mechanisms, including flavonoids and terpenic trilactones, which repel pests and pathogens. Unlike most organisms, ginkgos show no signs of senescence, the biological process of aging. Even at 600 years old, they maintain robust immune responses and continue to grow, making them nearly immortal by plant standards.
Their cambium, a layer of stem cells in the trunk, remains active throughout their lives, allowing the tree to repair itself and adapt to environmental changes. Additionally, older ginkgos grow faster due to their increasing girth and efficient nutrient transport systems.
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Thought extinct in the wild until the 20th century, ginkgos were rediscovered in remote parts of China. Researchers believe Buddhist monks preserved the species, planting them near temples where they thrived. Today, ginkgos line city streets worldwide, valued for their resistance to pollution, pests, and urban stress.