In a remarkable discovery, an international team of scientists has observed the rare evolutionary event of primary endosymbiosis between an ocean algae species and a bacterium. This process, which has only occurred twice in Earth’s history, has led to the creation of an organelle within the algae that is crucial for its survival.
Tyler Coale, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, led one of the studies that discovered this phenomenon. He explained the significance of this event, stating that it has shaped complex life as we know it. The algae engulfed the bacterium, providing it with nutrients and energy while gaining the ability to “fix” nitrogen from the air. This exchange resulted in the creation of an organelle within the algae that is crucial for its survival.
The collaborative effort of researchers from prestigious universities and laboratories highlights the importance of this groundbreaking discovery in the field of evolution and biology. Dr. Coale mentioned that this discovery could offer insights into nitrogen fixation and potentially revolutionize crop engineering. The international team’s findings were published in Science and Cell, shedding light on the evolutionary process and its potential impact on agriculture.
