genomics Archives

How culturomics unlocks acid mine drainage's hidden microbial universe.

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Sample Return

From Microbial Dark Matter To Living Library: New Biobank Decodes Survival Secrets Of Extreme Acid Mine Drainage Microbes

by Keith CowingJune 18, 2026June 18, 2026

Editor’s note: If we aspire to mount expeditions to new worlds and then embrace the task of characterizing and quantifying whatever life forms we find, the ability to map and […]

The morphology of bacterial cells is altered following exposure to simulated Martian conditions. TEM visualization of K. pneumoniae (A) and S. marcescens (C), size (FSC) and complexity (SSC) quantification by flow cytometry of K. pneumoniae (B) and S. marcescens (D). Scale bars are 500 nm in panel A and 250 nm in panel C. n = 5–7 biological replicates from two independent experiments. *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01. Friedman test followed by Dunn’s multiple comparison test. FSC, forward scatter; M9, minimal media; SSC, side scatter; UV, ultraviolet. Effects of simulated Martian environmental stressors on specific human pathogen-immune system interactions, mBio via PubMed

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Mars, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release

Pathogens Survive Conditions On Extraterrestrial Locations

by Keith CowingJune 16, 2026June 16, 2026

Micro organisms from our planet could survive on celestial bodies where water is present, such as Mars. That is the conclusion of PhD candidate Tommaso Zaccaria after experiments with simulated […]

Phylogenetic tree placing cryptophyte NMs among Archaeplastida. (a) Maximum likelihood (LG + C60 + G + F) phylogenetic tree constructed from a concatenation of 180 nucleus/nucleomorph‐encoded proteins (51 610 positions, 54 taxa). Branch support values are derived from Bayesian posterior probability (CAT‐GTR) and maximum likelihood ultrafast and nonparametric bootstrap. (b) Completeness of the individual datasets shown as a schematic representation of the complete supermatrix alignment (gaps in white, taxa with a large number of gaps correspond to genomes with low sequence coverage). The conspicuous block of missing data in C. mesostigmatica is related to the previously reported lineage‐specific loss of proteasome‐related genes in this genome (Moore et al., 2012).-- New Phytologist

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release

Nucleomorph Phylogenomics Suggests A Deep And Ancient Origin Of Cryptophyte Plastids Within Rhodophyta

by Keith CowingJune 16, 2026June 16, 2026

The evolutionary origin of red algae‐derived complex plastids remains obscure. Cryptophyta, one of four eukaryotic lineages harboring these plastids, still contains nucleomorphs, which are highly reduced remnants of red algal […]

tRNA evolved from RNA repeats and inverted repeats (stem–loop–stems) of known and conserved sequence. See the text for details. ACCA-Gly (line 6) was the primordial adapter molecule. Colors reflect internal homologies and are consistent throughout the figures. The tRNA precursor (line 11) was generated by the ligation of a 31 nt D loop minihelix (line 9, lacking 3′-ACCA) and two 31 nt anticodon (Ac) minihelices (line 10, lacking 3′-ACCA). Internally deleted bases are indicated in bold with strike-throughs. Bases in white bold are anticodon bases or sequence changes to support the tRNA fold. During pre-life, RNAs were formed with and without ligated 3′-ACCA. Underscored positions separate sequence elements and indicate how stem and loop sequences were selected. We posit that GCC may have been the primordial anticodon. GCC can utilize a GGC repeat (line 1) as a pre-mRNA. Secondary structures are indicated (parentheses stand for stems; * stands for loops). -- Genes

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

The Evolution Of The First Code

by Keith CowingJune 15, 2026

Background/Objectives: tRNAs, tRNAomes, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs), the first proteins, ribosomes and the genetic code coevolved. We utilize sequence data to reconstruct key steps in establishing the first code on Earth.

Summary of active metabolisms based on metabolic marker gene transcripts found in White Glacier; phyla performing each metabolism are marked by the pie charts; the size of each of the microorganisms reflects the relative transcript abundance of each metabolism and is not intended to represent quantitative differences in metabolic rates; created in BioRender. O’Connor, B. (2026) https://BioRender.com/vmkmdge -- ISME Communications via PubMed

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

Bipolar Investigation Of Near-surface Glacial Ice Reveals An Active Microbial Ecosystem Driven By Photosynthesis And Chemolithoautotrophy

by Keith CowingJune 15, 2026June 15, 2026

Despite extreme conditions including freezing temperatures, low water activity, and few nutrients, active microorganisms are thought to inhabit glacial ice, yet little is known about their identities and methods of […]

The DNA repair and ROS detoxification genes in the Curtobacterium aetherium L6-1 genome not found in strain DSM 20129.The genomes were compared using the BLAST Ring Image Generator (BRIG) with the blastp algorithm. The rings represent the following (from innermost to outermost): ① GC content, ② GC skew of the L6-1 genome, ③ percent identity to L6-1 of the protein orthologs found in strain DSM 20129, and ④ DNA repair (black) and ROS detoxification (gray) genes. The genes present in L6-1 but absent in DSM 20129 are indicated in red. -- Microorganisms

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

The Genetic Determinants of Extreme UV Radiation and Desiccation Tolerance in a Bacterium Recovered from the Stratosphere

by Keith CowingJune 15, 2026June 15, 2026

Microbes that survive transport to and in the stratosphere endure extremes of low temperature, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity, as well as high fluxes in ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

Reconstruction of the ancestral LECA proteome and its metabolic features

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Rethinking The Origin Of Our Cells As A Story Of Microbial Alliances

by Keith CowingJune 13, 2026June 13, 2026

All cells in animals, plants, fungi, and protists share a fundamental characteristic: they are eukaryotic cells—complex cells with specialized internal compartments. The cells that make up our bodies are no […]

Schematic of the selection step in the doped in emulsio selection.

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

What Powered the Earth’s Earliest Life?

by Keith CowingJune 12, 2026June 12, 2026

Early biological systems likely relied on RNA molecules to copy themselves and drive simple chemical reactions.

Trillion Gene Atlas -- Basecamp Research

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Press Release, Sample Return, Space Life Science, Tricorders & Sensors

Planetary Genomics: Basecamp Research Launches The Trillion Gene Atlas

by Keith CowingJune 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Editor’s note: If we aspire to mount expeditions to new worlds and then embrace the task of characterizing and quantifying whatever life forms we find, the ability to map and […]

To test the method, the team analyzed more than 100 organic and inorganic samples, including material from three-billion-year-old Earth rocks, dinosaur eggshells and fossilized dinosaur feathers caught in amber, as well as samples collected in space from the Ryugu and Bennu asteroids. Asteroid Bennu. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Before The Aliens, The Amino Acids

by Keith CowingJune 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Before any wrinkled, wide-eyed creature from a distant civilization asks to be taken home, the first success in the search for life beyond Earth might be more prosaic. A clue […]

genomics

From Microbial Dark Matter To Living Library: New Biobank Decodes Survival Secrets Of Extreme Acid Mine Drainage Microbes

Pathogens Survive Conditions On Extraterrestrial Locations

Nucleomorph Phylogenomics Suggests A Deep And Ancient Origin Of Cryptophyte Plastids Within Rhodophyta

The Evolution Of The First Code

Bipolar Investigation Of Near-surface Glacial Ice Reveals An Active Microbial Ecosystem Driven By Photosynthesis And Chemolithoautotrophy

The Genetic Determinants of Extreme UV Radiation and Desiccation Tolerance in a Bacterium Recovered from the Stratosphere

Rethinking The Origin Of Our Cells As A Story Of Microbial Alliances

What Powered the Earth’s Earliest Life?

Planetary Genomics: Basecamp Research Launches The Trillion Gene Atlas

Before The Aliens, The Amino Acids

SpaceBio Knowledge Hub: A LiteratOmics Platform for Microgravity and Space Biology Research

The Expected Yield Of Venus Zone Terrestrial Planets From PLATO

New Deadline For NASA Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) Announcement for Partnership Proposals (AFPP)

Detected: Rocky, Habitable-zone Exoplanet With An Atmosphere

MEDaL-1 Mars Lander Science Definition Team