[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 4 sources · 30 days · First seen · Last updated

Asgard archaea evolutionary research

Overview

Research into Asgard archaea has provided new evidence regarding the evolutionary origins of complex eukaryotic life. Initial findings from Shark Bay, Western Australia, identified a new species, Nerearchaeum marumarumayae, which was observed physically connected to a bacterium via nanotubes. This connection allowed for the exchange of essential nutrients and vitamins, supporting the hypothesis that eukaryotic cells emerged from ancient microbial partnerships.

Subsequent studies by researchers at the University of Vienna expanded on these findings by capturing live footage of Asgard archaea moving across surfaces. Using a specialized oxygen-free microscopy system, scientists observed organisms such as Candidatus Lokiarchaeum ossiferum and Candidatus Margulisarchaeum peptidophilum using a Lokiactin-based cytoskeleton to create protrusions for movement. This discovery suggests that the sophisticated actin-driven machinery characteristic of complex cells, such as human immune cells, existed prior to the emergence of eukaryotes approximately 2 billion years ago.

Entities

University of Technology Sydney · Nature · Candidatus Lokiarchaeum ossiferum · University of Melbourne · Shark Bay

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Asgard archaea study reveals origins of complex cellular movement

    A study in Nature reveals that Asgard archaea use an actin-like skeleton to crawl, suggesting complex cellular movement machinery existed before the evolution of eukaryotes 2 billion years ago.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Asgard archaeon discovery in Shark Bay reveals origins of complex life

    Scientists have captured the first direct visual evidence of a microbial partnership between an Asgard archaeon and a bacterium, offering new insights into how complex eukaryotic life evolved.

Sources

sciencedaily.com · senseaboutscience.org.uk · thebrighterside.news · world-today-news.com