Symbiosis and Innovation — Again
by Mechas — Life emerged in the unique conditions on our ancient planet and has since been innovating by continual change.
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A Most Useful Light Switch
Noteworthy — Phytoplankton, photosynthetic microbes that inhabit surface ocean waters, form the base of marine food webs. These keystone microbes are the oceans' primary producers. Importantly, their ability to carry out photosynthesis depends on their ability to make chlorophyll.
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Enlightened by Microbial Rhodopsins
by Mechas — The cold and dark northern winter days evoke nostalgia for the comfort and warmth of sunshine. We may take the sun for granted or even shun its scorching rays in hot weather, but we seldom think about the complex process of building life from solar energy, the foundation of our existence.
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A Paramecium, a Purple Bacterium, and a Green Alga Walk into a Bar…
by Janie — "Three to tango" makes yet another appearance in endosymbioses, this time in the form of a purple-green ciliate that is home to both purple bacteria and green algae. At first glance, this seems like a paradox...
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Cyanophages: Maximizing the Photo– and
Redirecting the –Synthesisby Daniel P. Haeusser — Happy Monday, readers! I hope you studied hard this weekend. Please put away your notes and close any open programs or browser tabs other than this one. It's time for a Small Things Considered general biology quiz:
In which of the following would you find genes for proteins involved in photosynthesis? (Note: One answer only!) -
Dine in or take out? The dilemma of the mixotroph
by Rachel and Elie Diner — One of the most important questions for any microbe is where their next meal will come from. For us, whether to make your own meal or eat food prepared by others is a common, perhaps daily, dilemma. In the natural world, the dine-in vs. take-out dilemma is played out in a different form: namely, do organisms make their own food by means such as photosynthesis, or do they rely on consuming other organisms...
