'Mount Everest' of bacteria discovered in the Caribbean
The largest known bacterium — a vermicelli-shaped organism that was discovered in shallow mangrove swamps in the Caribbean and is big enough to be seen with the naked eye — is redefining what is possible for bacteria, Earth’s most ancient life form. The bacterium, called Thiomargarita magnifica, is noteworthy not merely for its size — colossal for a single-celled organism at up to 2 cm long — but also because its internal architecture is unlike other bacteria, Scientists said on Thursday. The DNA, an organism’s blueprint, is not free-floating inside the cell as in most bacteria, bu...
Source: taipeitimes.com
