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Science Why we are here: Double membrane prokaryotes! Say Again?
Science Why we are here: Double membrane prokaryotes! Say Again? | Why we are here: Double membrane prokaryotes! Say Again? |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Friday, 21 August 2009 | |
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Science Discussions[corrected first paragraph 8-21-09] Dr. James A. Lake (from the Center for Astrobiology, University of California at Los Angeles), basically states that two types of microbes (an ancient actinobacterium and an ancient clostridium [two types of gram-positive bacterium]) created a new class of prokaryotes, which scientists today call double membrane prokaryotes. Prokaryotes are a group of very simple organisms without a cell nucleus. And, double-membrane prokaryotes include organisms that led to the creation of plants, which use photosynthesis to grow (taking in sunlight, to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds and to give off oxygen). In essence, this research hypothesizes that two simple organisms, which could not produce oxygen, came together to produce a more advanced organism that learned to take sunlight and produce oxygen, and consequently, changed the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere. These unicellular creatures are further divided into what scientists call the “three domain system”: bacteria (simple, unicellular microorganisms), eukaryota (organisms with complex structures, such as animals, plants, and fungi), and archaea. The archaea is a major “domain of life” as described in “Introduction to the Archaea: Life's extremists....” Simple types of single-celled organisms first formed on Earth based on being within the groups of bacteria and archaea. So, eukaryota forms of life (like humans) only came about due to bacteria and, especially, archaea, which is the basis of this research. So, what is important is that this new organism evolved into something that took in energy from the Sun and produced oxygen, something Earth lacked in its atmosphere, but would soon produce in huge quantities from these little creatures. Please read page two for more information. |
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