Antarctic bacteria share 'life‑support' genes to survive extreme conditions
Antarctica is one of the driest, coldest places on Earth. Very little life survives its extremes. In the soils scattered around the frozen ice sheets, however, communities of microbes do survive. And one of the keys to their success is a surprisingly communal strategy.
Antarctic bacteria possess genes that enable them to survive in extreme conditions by sharing survival tools with other microorganisms. A study published in Nature Communications analyzed the genomes of 676 microbe species, revealing that almost all (around 98%) shared genes. Energy production genes were among the most frequently transferred, particularly those that allow microbes to generate energy from atmospheric gases through a process called "aerotrophy."
This ability is crucial for Antarctic microbes as it helps them harvest scarce resources from their harsh environment. The study suggests that horizontal gene transfer, where unrelated organisms share genetic material, is a key strategy for Antarctic microbes' survival. After acquiring a new gene, microbes must prove its usefulness through natural selection, with advantageous genes becoming established throughout a population and disadvantageous ones being gradually lost.
This process helps maintain energy-generating genes in distantly related Antarctic microbes, even across vast distances. These microorganisms play essential roles in Antarctic ecosystems, driving the flow of nutrients and energy. As Antarctica undergoes rapid environmental change, understanding how these resilient microbes survive and respond to environmental pressures is crucial to predicting the ecosystem's future.
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