ID :
66428
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 17:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/66428
The shortlink copeid
Microbiologists find magnetic bacteria in Lonar lake
New Delhi, Jun 18 (PTI) Microbiologists in India's
western state Maharashtra have found 'magnetic bacteria' in
the ancient Lonar lake formed due to meteorite impact, a
finding that might open a vista for searching
extra-terrestrial life.
The magnetotactic bacteria, which are object of
interest of scientists from various fields world over, were
isolated from the lake in Maharashtra's Buldana district which
is the only impact crater formed in basaltic rock.
The bacteria are unique as they swim along geomagnetic
field lines because they contain tiny magnetic crystals called
magnetosomes, said Mahesh Chavadar, a microbiologist at the
Yashwantrao Chavan College of Science in Karad.
The fact that the bacteria was found in the lake has
thrown open doors for research on life outside universe.
"This seems to hint at a certain correlation between
these bacteria and meteorites, and that could have tremendous
implications on the search for extra-terrestrial life. We need
to explore if life outside the earth existed in this form,"
Chavadar said reporting his findings in a recent issue of
'Current Science'.
The bacteria was first discovered in 1975 and only a
few cultures of the micro-organisms are available in
laboratories across the world.
Chavadar said scientists have found that magnetic
nano-crystals in Martian meteorite ALH84001 were similar to
bacterial magnetosomes. The meteorite dating back to 4.5
billion years was found in Antarctica in 1984.
In light of the ecological importance of magnetic
bacteria in bio-geochemical cycles, their study in hitherto
unexplored environments can be significant.
The magnetotactic bacteria have the ability to orient and
migrate or swim along geomagnetic field lines, a behaviour
referred to as magnetoaxis.
This property is based on specific intracellular
structures -- the magnetosomes -- which are tiny magnetic
crystals composed of iron minerals.
The presence of magnetosomes in the bacteria was
confirmed by measuring their iron content which was found to
be much greater than the nonmagnetic cultures.
"Intracellular iron accumulation studies on these
bacteria showed up to 11.5 times more iron than non-magnetic
bacteria," Chavadar said. PTI
western state Maharashtra have found 'magnetic bacteria' in
the ancient Lonar lake formed due to meteorite impact, a
finding that might open a vista for searching
extra-terrestrial life.
The magnetotactic bacteria, which are object of
interest of scientists from various fields world over, were
isolated from the lake in Maharashtra's Buldana district which
is the only impact crater formed in basaltic rock.
The bacteria are unique as they swim along geomagnetic
field lines because they contain tiny magnetic crystals called
magnetosomes, said Mahesh Chavadar, a microbiologist at the
Yashwantrao Chavan College of Science in Karad.
The fact that the bacteria was found in the lake has
thrown open doors for research on life outside universe.
"This seems to hint at a certain correlation between
these bacteria and meteorites, and that could have tremendous
implications on the search for extra-terrestrial life. We need
to explore if life outside the earth existed in this form,"
Chavadar said reporting his findings in a recent issue of
'Current Science'.
The bacteria was first discovered in 1975 and only a
few cultures of the micro-organisms are available in
laboratories across the world.
Chavadar said scientists have found that magnetic
nano-crystals in Martian meteorite ALH84001 were similar to
bacterial magnetosomes. The meteorite dating back to 4.5
billion years was found in Antarctica in 1984.
In light of the ecological importance of magnetic
bacteria in bio-geochemical cycles, their study in hitherto
unexplored environments can be significant.
The magnetotactic bacteria have the ability to orient and
migrate or swim along geomagnetic field lines, a behaviour
referred to as magnetoaxis.
This property is based on specific intracellular
structures -- the magnetosomes -- which are tiny magnetic
crystals composed of iron minerals.
The presence of magnetosomes in the bacteria was
confirmed by measuring their iron content which was found to
be much greater than the nonmagnetic cultures.
"Intracellular iron accumulation studies on these
bacteria showed up to 11.5 times more iron than non-magnetic
bacteria," Chavadar said. PTI
