Ancient “Rock” Microbes May Reveal How Complex Life Began
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Scientists have discovered a previously unknown microbe living in ancient stromatolites in Western Australia, which may reveal how complex life emerged. The microbe, an Asgard archaeon, was found to be physically interacting with a bacterium through tiny tube-like connections.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown microbe living in ancient stromatolites in Western Australia. The microbe, an Asgard archaeon, is believed to be closely related to the ancestors of eukaryotes. Researchers found that the Asgard archaeon was physically interacting with a bacterium through tiny tube-like connections called nanotubes. The discovery provides the first visual confirmation of how such partnerships might have functioned, shedding light on how complex cells evolved. The team used advanced 3D imaging to reveal the structures at a scale of a millionth of a millimeter. The findings suggest that the microbe and bacterium created compounds that the other could use, including vitamins, nutrients, and hydrogen.
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