Noteworthy — This paper describes the highly evolved interactions between anaerobic protists and their syntrophic sulfate-reducing symbionts. Remarkably, the symbionts reside in an elaborate symbiosomal membrane network that places them adjacent to both the host's hydrogenosome and the extracellular milieu, where they can access sulfate. The physical properties of the symbiosome ensures the efficiency of this syntrophy. Read more →
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Did organs precede organisms in the dawn of life?
by Fernando Baquero — We are commemorating the centennial of the first significant scientific hypothesis aimed at understanding the origin of life, published in 1924 by Alexander Ivánovich Oparin (1894-1980). The implicit message in this wonderful-to-read publication, but not expressed as such in the text, is that life arises in a kind of primordial soup of organic and inorganic molecules dissolved in hot water. Read more →
Bidirectional Plant–Bacterial Gene Exchange
Noteworthy — Plants interact with a broad range of commensal bacteria and often rely on these microbial partners for proper growth and development. In this study, Haimlich et al. analyzed genomes of the fast-growing plant Arabidopsis thaliana and members of its microbiome. Read more →
Is there a future for STC?
by Roberto — The short answer to that question is an enthusiastic YES! Of course, there is a future for STC, and I think it is bright. The long answer, well... that's what this post is all about It requires that I give you the background story first. Read more →