Microorganisms have profoundly shaped Earth’s biological and geological history, from the origins of oxygenic photosynthesis to present-day global biogeochemical cycles.
Metagenomics
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Asgard Archaeal Origin Of Microtubules
Eukaryotic cells change their shapes, actively segregate their DNA and contain membrane networks, facilitated by a complex cytoskeleton containing actin filaments, microtubules made from tubulin, and other components.
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Taxonomic Description Of Uncultured Cyanobacteria From Extreme Habitats Through Genome-Based Classification
Cyanobacteria form a morphologically and phylogenetically diverse group of oxygenic phototrophic bacteria inhabiting a wide range of environments, including extreme habitats such as hot springs and volcanic steam vents.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report
Ancient Metagenomics Reveals Subglacial Microbiomes Driven By Oxygen Availability
Beneath Earth’s glaciers and ice sheets lies an aquatic realm where ice, water, rock, and microbial life interact, driving chemical reactions that can collectively influence the global carbon cycle, polar […]
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release
Jumping Genes Help Resolve The Tree Of Life
Genomes are key to unlocking life’s evolutionary history. The presence and absence of certain genetic sequences and mutations can give us clues to the order in which species diverge.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release
Heatproof Microbes Reveal Molecular Secrets Of Nature’s Hottest Recycling System
When compost piles reach nearly boiling temperatures, most life would perish—but not the resilient microbes thriving within. This study reveals how thermophilic bacterial communities withstand temperatures up to 87 °C […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Microbes At Red Sea Vents Show How Life And Geology Shape Each Other
A new study led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Saudi Arabia) Professor Alexandre Rosado has revealed an unusual microbial world in the Hatiba Mons hydrothermal vent […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Plasmidome, Resistome, and Virulence-associated Genes Characterization of Acinetobacter Johnsonii in NASA Cleanrooms and a Clinical Setting
Evidence shows persistence of non-spore-forming Acinetobacter johnsonii in high-stakes controlled and nutrient-limited environments.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report
The Biology, Microclimate, and Geology of a Distinctive Ecosystem Within the Sandstone of Hyper-Arid Timna Valley, Israel
Microbial endolithic communities in the sandstone rocks of the southern Negev Desert, particularly in Timna Park, were initially discovered by Imre Friedmann and Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann in their pioneering study about […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Sample Return, Space Life Science, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Raiding Nature’s Genetic Toolbox For UV-C Resistance By Functional Metagenomics
As we assess the habitability of other worlds, we are limited by being able to only study terrestrial life adapted to terrestrial conditions.