evolution, microbiology

Microdroplets of water in a natural asphalt lake are home to active microbial life, a study shows.

The gene behind a butterfly’s mimicry; the evolution of adipose fins; bacteria and bowel cancer; plants lacking plastid genomes

Fossilized structures suggest that mat-forming microbes have been around for almost 3.5 billion years.

A 50,000-generation-long experiment shows that bacteria keep getting fitter.

Molecules, cells, or vertebrates—when individuals move and act as a single unit, surprisingly complex behaviors arise that hint at the origins of multicellularity.

Researchers show that a bacterium’s self-sacrifice can benefit its community, even when the members are not strongly related.

A red alga appears to have adapted to extremely hot, acidic environments by collecting genes from bacteria and archaea.

Carl Woese, the discoverer of the third domain of life, has passed away at age 84.

The poxvirus stockpiles genes when it needs to adapt.

The recently hyped amoeba-flagellate Collodictyon has many secrets to tell about early eukaryotic evolution.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria keep their protective genes, even when antibiotics are no longer given.

The largest virus to be sequenced prompts researchers to consider whether giant viruses were once full-fledged living organisms.

Columbia University evolutionary ecologist Dustin Rubenstein explains just why it's so interesting and important to find slime molds that engage in a form of agriculture.

Editor's choice in microbiology