Gammaproteobacteria GFAJ-1,
a bacterium capable of using arsenic as a component of its cell machinery (photo: NASA Astrobiology)
Left: Felisa Wolf-Simon, NASA astrobiology research fellow, processing
mud samples at Mono Lake. Right: Mono Lake, California (photos: NASA Astrobiology)
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Yesterday NASA made an exciting announcement in biology:
"Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components."
(From NASA Astrobiology)
This is a major finding, with important implications in the fields of astrobiology, microbiology and molecular biology, since P is one of the six elements so far believed to be essential to every life form. The Gammaproteobacteria GFAJ-1 is the first exception ever found to that rule. It was found in Mono Lake, California.
The discovery was published on the on line version of Science Magazine, and will soon be published on the regular paper edition. Pdfs of the article and support material can be accessed in my p-drive (a-cordoba. ONU students and faculty only).
In the following weeks, as we learn more about this discovery I'll bring new information into the classroom. In the meantime I want to provide links for you to start your own exploration of the topic:
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Update, March 21 2011
The news is exciting indeed, but there are detractors. Here I give them a voice (more updates will come if I find the sources)
Felisa Wolfe-Simon (of arsenic infamy) is no more convincing in person than in print
By Michael Eisen | March 18, 2011
By Michael Eisen | March 18, 2011
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Update, June 01 2011
Update, June 01 2011
Science Magazine will publish a paper with criticisms to Wolfe-Simon et al.'s paper. Click here to see the press release on Science Magazine News. (Link to the Science article will follow soon)
Click here for another Science Magazine News article on the criticism's to Wolf-Simon's paper.
Click here for another Science Magazine News article on the criticism's to Wolf-Simon's paper.
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