Global database reveals hidden diversity and potential of deep-sea microbes
The ocean's aphotic zone—the dark, high-pressure region below the surface, where sunlight cannot reach—is home to a vast wealth of microbial life. Yet scientists know relatively little about the genetic makeup, growth and function of many of these enigmatic organisms.
Scientists at Bigelow Laboratory have created a comprehensive global atlas of single-cell microbes living in the aphotic zone of the ocean – the dark, high-pressure region below the surface where sunlight cannot reach. With over 9,600 genomes from individual microbial cells collected from depths across the globe, including the Mariana Trench and Antarctic, the Global Ocean Reference Genomes Dark (GORG-Dark) resource sheds new light on these previously understudied deep-sea microbes.
By linking a genome to a specific cell, researchers can study rare organisms in detail. The SCGC's genomic data has contributed to various studies, including one revealing shifts in microbial communities as Maine's kelp forests decline. The GORG-Dark database reveals unexpected functions among abundant deep-sea microbes, such as widespread potential for chemoautotrophy – a process akin to photosynthesis but using inorganic chemicals instead of sunlight for growth.
This capability was identified even in the deepest sampled regions, highlighting the importance of deep-sea microbial communities to global carbon and nutrient cycles. The researchers also discovered genes associated with producing specialized compounds that could have pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications, suggesting new avenues for uncovering deep ocean discoveries that could benefit human health.
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