Tiny microbe challenges the definition of cellular life
4 days ago
- #archaea
- #microbiology
- #genome
- Scientists discovered a microbe named Sukunaarchaeum mirabile with one of the tiniest genomes on Earth.
- The microbe's genome is only 238,000 base pairs, smaller than any other known archaea.
- Sukunaarchaeum is almost entirely dependent on its host, Citharistes regius, for essential energy and nutrients.
- The microbe challenges fundamental notions of life, existing in a gray area between archaea and viruses.
- Researchers found similar genetic sequences in marine environments, suggesting a new archaeal lineage.
- The discovery highlights the existence of 'microbial dark matter'—microbes that can't be cultivated in labs.
- Scientists aim to culture Sukunaarchaeum in the lab to study its biology and ecology further.