Scientists Catch a 'Jumping Gene' in Action Between Species

Topic: Biology

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology have found evidence of a 'jumping gene' moving from one species to another. They observed this process happening between two types of bacteria, where a small predatory bacterium was transferring its genetic material into the cells of another type of bacteria.

Jumping genes are pieces of DNA that can move around within an organism's cells. They can give new traits to cells and play a big role in how species evolve over time. But scientists thought jumping genes could only move between cells within the same species or through viruses and plasmids. Now, researchers have found evidence that they can also jump between different species directly.

The team studied a group of bacteria that produce methane, which is a type of gas. They noticed that one type of bacterium, called Candidatus Velamenicoccus archaeovorus, was feeding on another type of bacterium called Methanothrix soehngenii. The researchers suspected that the predator might be transferring its genetic material into the prey.

To test this idea, they looked for a specific type of RNA molecule in the cells of the two bacteria. This molecule is called an intron, and it's known to function as a jumping gene. They used special probes to detect the presence of this molecule in the cells.

The researchers found that the intron RNA was present in both the predator and prey cells. But when they looked closer, they saw that the intron had already killed the new host cell. This means that the transfer of genetic material didn't succeed.

Despite this failure, the discovery is important because it shows that jumping genes can move between species directly. This challenges our previous understanding of how these genes work and opens up new areas for research.

Why It Matters

This discovery has implications for our understanding of how species evolve and adapt to their environments. It also highlights the importance of studying the complex interactions between different microorganisms in ecosystems.

Key Facts

• Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology have found evidence of a 'jumping gene' moving from one species to another.
• The jumping gene is an intron, which is a type of RNA molecule that can move around within cells.
• The researchers studied a group of bacteria that produce methane and observed the transfer of genetic material between two types of bacteria.
• The discovery challenges our previous understanding of how jumping genes work and opens up new areas for research.
• This study has implications for our understanding of species evolution and adaptation to environments.

Key Terms

Intron

A type of RNA molecule that can move around within cells and give new traits to them.

Implications

This discovery has implications for our understanding of how species evolve and adapt to their environments. It also highlights the importance of studying the complex interactions between different microorganisms in ecosystems.