Scientists Discover Thousands of New Microbial Species Thriving in the Mariana Trench
1 min read
Summary
Scientists working on the Mariana Trench Environment and Ecology Research (MEER) project have discovered more than 6,000 new microbes living in the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean.
Data showed that these microbes have evolvedsimilar genetic changes to survive in the harsh underwater conditions.
One study found that over 89% of genomes were entirely new, belonging to previously unknown microbial species.
Another team examined the genetic makeup of deep-sea fish and found that they share a single genetic mutation which helps repair DNA damage and makes cells more efficient.
Studying these microbial species could provide inspirations for new drugs to fight infections, inflammation, or cancer.
The research could also help scientists learn how to engineer pressure- or radiation-resistant proteins to aid space exploration.
