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Archaea Sport Structures that Shuttle Genes Among Microbes
Researchers find so-called integrons, previously known only in bacteria, in their distantly related microbial relatives. 
Archaea Sport Structures that Shuttle Genes Among Microbes
Archaea Sport Structures that Shuttle Genes Among Microbes

Researchers find so-called integrons, previously known only in bacteria, in their distantly related microbial relatives. 

Researchers find so-called integrons, previously known only in bacteria, in their distantly related microbial relatives. 

Archaea, microbiology

Two agar plates superimposed on each other. One is empty while the other is growing multiple different cultured organisms, colored white, beige, and green.
Most Archaea and Bacteria Are Nameless. SeqCode Could Change That
Dan Robitzski | Sep 27, 2022 | 8 min read
The Scientist spoke with microbiologist William Whitman about a new system of nomenclature for prokaryotic organisms that can’t be cultured.
Seagrass underwater on a sandy seabed.
Seagrasses Continue to Emit Methane Decades After Death
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Feb 22, 2022 | 4 min read
Methane production, likely achieved by a diverse group of methanogenic archaea, occurs at similar rates in both alive and dead seagrasses, a study reports. The findings highlight the potential environmental impact of seagrasses declining globally.
Extreme Biotech: Understanding Extremophile Biology to Impact Human Health
The Scientist | 1 min read
Jaclyn Winter and Shiladitya DasSarma will discuss how they harness the unique biology of extremophiles for the discovery and development of new therapeutics.
microscope image of methaotrophs with black specks
Deep Sea Microbes Produce Graphite-like Carbon
Chloe Tenn | Nov 11, 2021 | 2 min read
The first evidence of biologically produced elemental carbon inspires more questions than answers.  
photo of marshy wetland in california at sunset
Researchers Find DNA “Borgs” in Methane-Chomping Archaea
Annie Melchor | Jul 20, 2021 | 3 min read
Massive extrachromosomal elements named after the hive-minded cyborg villains in Star Trek may be the first of their kind.
Researchers Propose Automating the Naming of Novel Microbes
Jef Akst | Mar 1, 2021 | 5 min read
With modern technologies unearthing novel bacterial and archaeal species by the dozens, hundreds, or even thousands, manually naming them all is no longer practical, scientists say.
shinkai submersible
Elusive Asgard Archaea Finally Cultured in Lab
Nicoletta Lanese | Aug 12, 2019 | 3 min read
The 12-year-long endeavor reveals Prometheoarchaeum as a tentacled cell, living in a symbiotic relationship with methane-producing microbes.
archaea fused together with cytoplasmic bridges
Archaea CRISPR Systems Grab DNA Memories During Interspecies Mating
Carolyn Wilke | Mar 1, 2019 | 2 min read
When different archaeal species mate, their CRISPR systems interact in ways that may influence their evolution.
Life Deep Underground Is Twice the Volume of the Oceans: Study
Carolyn Wilke | Dec 11, 2018 | 2 min read
Scientists estimate that subterranean organisms constitute a massive amount of carbon, 245 to 385 times greater than that contained in all humans.
Opinion: Constrain Speculation to Protect the Integrity of Science
Mike Klymkowsky | Jun 18, 2018 | 4 min read
What we can know about biology before the last universal common ancestor is limited—and we should be circumspect in filling in the gaps.
From Little Things Big Things Grow
Bob Grant | Jun 1, 2018 | 3 min read
We should take comfort in the fact that life on Earth had such unassuming, shared beginnings.
Archaea Family Tree Blossoms, Thanks to Genomics
Amber Dance | Jun 1, 2018 | 10+ min read
Identification of new archaea species elucidates the domain’s unique  biology and sheds light on its relationship to eukaryotes.
Infographic: Can Archaea Teach Us About the Evolution of Eukaroyotes?
Amber Dance | May 31, 2018 | 3 min read
The discovery of copious new archaeal species is shedding light on the tree of life and revealing some unique cellular biology.
Final Nail Hammered into NgAgo Coffin
Kerry Grens | Aug 3, 2017 | 1 min read
The paper describing the gene-editing method is retracted.
Researchers Discover Salt-Loving Methanogens
Abby Olena, PhD | May 26, 2017 | 3 min read
Two previously overlooked archaeal strains fill an evolutionary gap for microbes.
New CRISPR-Cas Enzymes Discovered
Kerry Grens | Dec 22, 2016 | 3 min read
A metagenomics analysis finds Cas9 in archaea for the first time, along with two previously unknown Cas nucleases from bacteria.
A New Role for Marine Archaea
Catherine Offord | Jul 1, 2016 | 3 min read
Researchers discover acetogenesis in archaea, suggesting an important role for these little-studied organisms in generating organic carbon below the seafloor.
Archaea’s Role in Carbon Cycle
Catherine Offord | Jun 30, 2016 | 1 min read
Bathyarchaeota undergo acetogenesis, generating organic carbon below the seafloor.
Prokaryotic Microbes with Eukaryote-like Genes Found
Jyoti Madhusoodanan | May 6, 2015 | 3 min read
Deep-sea microbes possess hallmarks of eukaryotic cells, hinting at a common ancestor for archaea and eukaryotes.
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