PubMed · 15035003
Shrinking genomics.
Abstract
Two bacteria are featured this month, and both are at the lower end of the genome size scale. The first, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, belongs to a group of bacteria that have been studied both as important human and animal pathogens and in the pursuit of understanding the essential functions of a self-replicating minimal cell. The second, Nanoarchaeum equitans, is an obligate symbiont that only grows in co-culture with another archaeon. N. equitans seems to be the coelacanth of the microbial world--it has been assigned to a new phylum and represents a primitive form of prokaroytic life.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Nicholas R Thomson, Mohammed Sebaihia, Ana M Cerdeño-Tárraga, Matthew T Holden, Julian Parkhill. 2004. Shrinking genomics.. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro800
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.