Not a cheetah: Ancient DNA reveals the surprising Arctic life of extinct North American cat
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has overturned decades of assumptions about Miracinonyx trumani, the extinct predator popularly known as the American cheetah. By analyzing nuclear paleogenomes and stable isotopes from fossils found as far north as the Yukon, scientists have discovered that this iconic cat was not a true cheetah but a highly adaptable…
A team of researchers from UNSW Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, and The University of Melbourne have discovered a previously unknown microbe living within an ancient formation called stromatolites. These microorganisms, known as Asgard archaea, could hold the key to understanding how complex life emerged on Earth. Stromatolites have been around for billions of years and were responsible for releasing some of the earliest oxygen into the atmosphere.
The discovery of Asgard archaea in close association with other organisms within stromatolites could provide insights into the formation of eukaryotes, the cells that make up plants, animals, and humans. The team used advanced imaging techniques to observe the archaeon and bacterium connected by bacterial nanotubes, indicating a close partnership.
This evidence supports the theory that early eukaryotic cells may have developed through an intimate relationship between an archaeon and a bacterium, which eventually led to the formation of mitochondria. The researchers named the newly identified microbe Nerearchaeum marumarumayae, combining references to the ancient Greek sea god Nereus and the Malgana word for ancient home.
The name was chosen with input from Malgana elders, recognizing the traditional connection between the people of central Shark Bay and their land.
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- Ancient “living fossils” may reveal how complex life began sciencedaily.com
