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Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 3:03 am
by desertrat
Researchers in Canada cultured some rare microbes from soil samples. After analysing their DNA, they discovered the microbes belong to none of the existing kingdoms of living organisms. The microbes were previously known but rare, and their DNA had not been previously analysed.
The article includes a scanning electron micrograph and several transmitted light micrographs.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/hemi ... -1.4715823
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 4:45 am
by Pat Thielen
I saw this article as well -- It is really interesting and I like how they were found in just a random dirt sample. Which reminds me that I need to carry sample bottles with me as well!
I think these guys might be aliens!
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:16 am
by MicroBob
Hi Rick,
thank you for the hint, I wouldn't have found this otherwise.
Leeuwenhoek started to take a closer look at microbiological life in about 1660. But even today nature is only really known to a certain degree. But this doesn't keep us from treating it as badly as we do today.
Bob
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:37 am
by Hobbyst46
Thanks for the very interesting reading material!
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 8:39 am
by MichaelG.
Here's a U.K. news item about the
... voracious little ogres ...
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/scie ... 36876.html
The link to the letter in 'Nature' is worth following.
MichaelG.
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 4:24 pm
by SutherlandDesmids
I'm not sure about the phrasing of the title of the article, which implies that the Hemimastigophora were literally discovered for the first time by Miss Eglit, which is of course untrue and contradicted by the article. We have been aware of them for a very long time but only now have we subjected them to genomic analysis. She does have the credit for that, of course, and the honour of discovering a new species of hemimastigote.
It is a fascinating re-placement though, and another incentive to analyse the genomics of a great many simple organisms.
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 1:09 am
by Aslan
Thanks for posting the link to this article. It's humbling that we are still finding new forms of life today.
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 4:31 am
by PeteM
What a great story of discovery. Thanks for posting the link.
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 7:31 am
by MichaelG.
SutherlandDesmids wrote:I'm not sure about the phrasing of the title of the article, which implies that the Hemimastigophora were literally discovered for the first time by Miss Eglit, which is of course untrue and contradicted by the article. [ .... ]
Yes, regrettably over-dramatised in the News headlines ... but at least the story made the mainstream press, and was a refreshing change from much of the content!
MichaelG.
Re: Microbes Belonging to New Kingdom of Life Discovered
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:49 am
by SutherlandDesmids
MichaelG. wrote:SutherlandDesmids wrote:I'm not sure about the phrasing of the title of the article, which implies that the Hemimastigophora were literally discovered for the first time by Miss Eglit, which is of course untrue and contradicted by the article. [ .... ]
Yes, regrettably over-dramatised in the News headlines ... but at least the story made the mainstream press, and was a refreshing change from much of the content!
MichaelG.
Yes, it's a pleasant surprise for all that, isn't it?