Caulobacterales bacteria (IMAGE)

Stockholm University

Caulobacterales bacteria

Caption

Unlike most bacteria, Caulobacterales bacteria divide asymmetrically when they reproduce, which creates two cells that look different from each other (top part of the illustration). However, the researchers at Stockholm University discovered that several species have lost this complexity during their evolution (bottom part of the illustration), and that these species are missing around 100 specific genes. This gives the researchers a unique window into which genes are needed to create complex lifecycles in bacteria.

Credit

Joel Hallgren

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May be used in connection to research from Stockholm University

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