Thiomargarita magnifica: World’s biggest bacterium found in Caribbean mangrove swamp

Researchers have discovered the world’s largest bacterium in a Caribbean mangrove swamp.

Key highlights

  • Olivier Gros, found the first example of this bacterium — named Thiomargarita magnifica, or “magnificent sulfur pearl” — clinging to sunken mangrove leaves in the archipelago of Guadeloupe in 2009.
  • Most bacteria are microscopic, but this one is so big it can be seen with the naked eye.
  • According to a scientist, the thin white filament, approximately the size of a human eyelash, is by far the largest bacterium known to date.
  • Gros also found the bacterium attached to oyster shells, rocks and glass bottles in the swamp.
  • Scientists have not yet been able to grow it in lab culture, but the researchers’ say the cell has a structure that’s unusual for bacteria.
  • One key difference: it has a large central compartment, or vacuole, that allows some cell functions to happen in that controlled environment instead of throughout the cell.

GS TIMES UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED BASICS  DAILY ONLINE TEST CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ FOR STATE CIVIL SERVICES

MORE THAN 30 QUESTIONS FORM GS TIMES UPSC 2022 PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS DAILY TEST

Written by 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *