Scientists Re-Create the Microbial Dance That Sparked Complex Life
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich recreated endosymbiosis in a lab, revealing mutual adaptation between microbes and fungi, with implications for synthetic biology and complex life evolution.
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Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich have successfully recreated the process of endosymbiosis in a laboratory setting, marking a significant advancement in understanding how complex life evolved. Endosymbiosis occurs when one microbe lives inside another, leading to mutual benefits and cellular complexity. The team, led by Gabriel Giger and Julia Vorholt, injected the bacterium Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica into the fungus Rhizopus microsporus, which had previously formed a natural partnership. They developed a method to penetrate the fungus's rigid cell wall using a combination of enzymes and pressure from a bicycle pump. The bacteria not only survived but also adapted to the fungal environment, eventually integrating into the fungal reproductive cycle. This experiment provided insights into the conditions necessary for successful endosymbiotic relationships, revealing that both organisms adapt to each other, a process previously overlooked. The findings suggest that understanding these dynamics could lead to innovations in synthetic biology, where engineered endosymbiotic systems might be developed for applications such as pollution metabolism or medicine production.
- Researchers successfully induced endosymbiosis in a lab for the first time.
- The study highlights the mutual adaptation of both host and endosymbiont during the process.
- The experiment could pave the way for advancements in synthetic biology.
- Understanding endosymbiosis may provide insights into the evolution of complex life.
- The findings suggest potential applications in engineering organisms for specific functions.
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