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Two lifeforms merge in once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:07 am
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:07 am
LINK
quote:
Scientists have caught a once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event in progress, as two lifeforms have merged into one organism that boasts abilities its peers would envy. Last time this happened, Earth got plants.
The phenomenon is called primary endosymbiosis, and it occurs when one microbial organism engulfs another, and starts using it like an internal organ. In exchange, the host cell provides nutrients, energy, protection and other benefits to the symbiote, until eventually it can no longer survive on its own and essentially ends up becoming an organ for the host – or what’s known as an organelle in microbial cells.
In the 4-billion-odd-year history of life on Earth, primary endosymbiosis is thought to have only happened twice that we know of, and each time was a massive breakthrough for evolution. The first occurred about 2.2 billion years ago, when an archaea swallowed a bacterium that became the mitochondria. This specialized energy-producing organelle allowed for basically all complex forms of life to evolve. It remains the heralded "powerhouse of the cell" to this day.
The second time happened about 1.6 billion years ago, when some of these more advanced cells absorbed cyanobacteria that could harvest energy from sunlight. These became organelles called chloroplasts, which gave sunlight-harvesting abilities, as well as a fetching green color, to a group of lifeforms you might have heard of – plants.
And now, scientists have discovered that it’s happening again. A species of algae called Braarudosphaera bigelowii was found to have engulfed a cyanobacterium that lets them do something that algae, and plants in general, can’t normally do – "fixing" nitrogen straight from the air, and combining it with other elements to create more useful compounds.
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:11 am to LSUDVM1999
quote:tl/dr: Braarudosphaera bigelowii to Nitrogen: “I will fix you.”
A species of algae called Braarudosphaera bigelowii was found to have engulfed a cyanobacterium that lets them do something that algae, and plants in general, can’t normally do – "fixing" nitrogen straight from the air, and combining it with other elements to create more useful compounds.
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:11 am to LSUDVM1999
Next up: plants that don't need fertilizer.
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:14 am to LSUDVM1999
I knew it would happen. People were calling me crazy, but I have proof now..
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:15 am to LSUDVM1999
When the Bible says: "God created the Heavens and the Earth." It didnt explain how he did it.
God created the Heavens, so he made Space Aliens too.
How long has man been on earth? A million years? 2,000 years?
Is that a man year, or God year.
Hummmmmmm
God created the Heavens, so he made Space Aliens too.
How long has man been on earth? A million years? 2,000 years?
Is that a man year, or God year.
Hummmmmmm
This post was edited on 4/18/24 at 8:17 am
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:18 am to LSUDVM1999
Is this supposed to make me believe humans and octopus' came from the same singular cell billions of years ago.
One of us just evolved to walk and one of us evolved to have 8 tentacles and lives in the sea?
One of us just evolved to walk and one of us evolved to have 8 tentacles and lives in the sea?
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:19 am to LSUDVM1999
I for one welcome our new Braarudosphaera bigelowii overlords. All hail!
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:21 am to WaydownSouth
quote:
Is this supposed to make me believe humans and octopus' came from the same singular cell billions of years ago.
Interesting you choose the octopus, the one organism on Earth we know for certain is an alien, to relate to humans
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:22 am to LSUDVM1999
How high will this drive crawfish prices?
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:23 am to LSUDVM1999
Miracle gro futures are crumbling
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:23 am to LSUDVM1999
quote:sure....
The first occurred about 2.2 billion years ago, when an archaea swallowed a bacterium that became the mitochondria
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:26 am to LSUDVM1999
quote:
once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:27 am to LSUDVM1999
quote:so swallowing is good for the environment and the future of mankind?
when an archaea swallowed a bacterium that became the mitochondria
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:27 am to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:
Interesting you choose the octopus, the one organism on Earth we know for certain is an alien, to relate to humans
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:29 am to LSUDVM1999
I got a bad feeling about this man.
Posted on 4/18/24 at 8:31 am to LSUDVM1999
What does this mean for my pool
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