Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
Laboratory populations of unicellular green algae evolved motile multicellular forms in water with Snowball Earth-like viscosity. The results suggest that thick, cold oceans may have favored larger, collectively moving organisms during an important period in the evolution of multicellular life.
A study comparing mitochondrial proteins across the tree of life reconstructed the mitochondrion of the last eukaryotic common ancestor. The analysis suggests this early complex mitochondrion could support both oxygen-based and anaerobic metabolism.
Envelope-carrying genetic elements related to those found in fruit flies are widespread across several invertebrate animal groups, including some ancient animal lineages. Their evolutionary patterns suggest that the link between these elements and envelope genes may date to before major animal groups diverged.
Researchers have described a new freshwater amoeba species from Budamu Stream near Cape Coast, Ghana. Their analysis also identified an additional lineage and up to seven possible Mayorella groups, many made up of unnamed or environmental sequences.
Researchers have isolated the first cultivated virus known to infect a chrysophyte, an aquatic protist that can both photosynthesize and consume prey. Its genome contains a proteorhodopsin-like gene, a type of gene not previously reported in a virus, although predictions suggest the protein may not function as a light-driven proton pump.
