Seed mag on Bacteria

- Posted: 06.Nov.2006.


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Scientists had previously hypothesized that an organism couldn't have a genome with fewer than 400,000 nucleotides, the units that compose a strand of DNA. But Carsonella's genome has evolved right past that theoretical limit, weighing in at a mere 160,000 bases. In fact, it is the smallest genome ever sequenced.

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There are many scholarly papers documenting the collective motion of bacteria in suspension. Even more people have seen swarms of bacteria beneath a cover-slip or in a droplet of fluid moving together like nose-plugged synchronized-swimmers creating whirling patterns. But, what choreographs this complex dance?

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Satellites, aerial photography, and computerized geographic imaging systems have enabled us to map the Earth with unprecedented accuracy. Planes now feature screens that let passengers monitor the flight's path, while real-time websites map highway traffic flow with stunning precision. But when it comes to mapping another travel pattern—that of bacteria within the human body—scientists have only a vague idea of what is going on.



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