Life on Earth Depends on Networks of Ocean Bacteria
1 min read
Summary
The ocean is home to countless Prochlorococcus bacteria, which collectively produce as much as 20% of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Research from the University of Cordoba in Spain has shown that Prochlorococcus and another bacteria, Synechococcus, form nanotubes made of cell membrane, which allow them to share resources and nutrients.
These developments challenge the notion of these bacteria being single-celled, and raise important questions about how they co-operate in groups to exchange information and nutrients.
Further research is needed to establish exactly how the nanotubes form, but it is possible that as they communicate more effectively, this could affect oxygen levels in the atmosphere.