A tiny cell that broke a big rule of biology

19 days ago

Jon Zehr discovered genetic evidence of a new nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the 1990s but could not isolate the organism, leading to a decades-long search.
Kyoko Hagino independently studied the algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii, finding an unexplained black dot inside it, which later proved to be the bacteria Zehr sought.
Nitrogen fixation is crucial for life but limited to simple microbes due to oxygen sensitivity, creating a bottleneck with major agricultural and environmental impacts.
Collaboration revealed the bacteria had lost many genes and relied on the algae for proteins, indicating a symbiotic relationship so close it resembled an organelle.
The bacteria, now named Nitroplast, is the first known complex-life-derived organelle capable of nitrogen fixation, challenging biological rules and offering potential agricultural insights.
The discovery highlights the unexpected nature of scientific breakthroughs, stemming from persistent, curiosity-driven research across disciplines and geographies.

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