Noteworthy — We are living through interesting times, to say the least. Not long ago, though now it may feel that it's been eons, we could freely celebrate microbial diversity, biodiversity, structural diversity, diversity of opinions, diversity of interests and, yes, human diversity even! Read more →
Lost & Found #3
by Christoph — If you want to leave 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) for any reason, you can deactivate or completely delete your account. That's it then. But if you want to take a few still interesting bookmarks with you when you move out, well, then the 𝕏odus takes a little longer. Here are three more of these salvaged bookmarks, in 'Lost & Found #3'. Read more →
Bdellovibrio–Prey Interactions
Noteworthy — The environmental bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is unique in its capacity to prey and feed on other bacteria. This predatory behavior involves attaching and entering prey cells to consume and grow on cytoplasmic macromolecules, eventually lysing the host. But how do these bacterial predators recognize and invade their prey? Read more →
Defining Life with Aristotle
by Chelsi Cassilly and Eric Bodlak — What is life? Initially, it seems like a simple question. The immediate response is often to compare and contrast the many things we encounter daily that are animate and inanimate. Yet this question becomes harder the longer you sit with it. Because life on this planet – that is, life as we know it – includes microbial life... Read more →
An Unusual Symbiosome
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 →
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 →
Winter Vacation
By the STC team — We take advantage of this being the season for rejoicing, and embark on a five-week winter vacation. When we return in 2025, on January 20, we will enter the 19th year of Small Things Considered. Read more →
Re: Limitations of LB Medium
by Christoph — Say, you are a student in a molecular genetics lab course or a more advanced cloning expert, you will inevitably have to deal with E. coli. And to make E. coli bacteria grow quickly, standard protocols almost always suggest using LB medium as a "rich medium". You follow the protocol... Read more →