抗辐射微生物.docVIP

抗辐射微生物的研究 Anyone who thinks that all the major discoveries in science have already been made may want to have a closer look. In most cases, new findings depend on special conditions that reveal unusual or unexpected phenomena. And in the microbial world, we have hardly even begun to examine the extreme capabilities of the many millions of novel—and largely unstudied--microscopic life forms that surround us. Investigators at Idaho State University and at UMBI, the Biotechnology Institution of the University System of Maryland, have now isolated the most radiation-resistant organisms known to science. The latest contenders are members of a remarkable kingdom of microorganisms known as Achaea. Achaea, first discovered only 30 years ago, like bacteria, have no cell nucleus, but they represent a kingdom that is closer, on the tree of life, to plants and animals than bacteria. Using advanced techniques for isolating radiation resistant mutants, Dr. Linda C. Devious, \o Dr. Shiladitya DasSarma Dr. Shiladitya DasSarma , and colleagues have isolated mutants that are more radiation-resistant than any other known life form discovered to date. The radiation-resistant microbes depend on at least two different pathways for their radiation-resistance. One such pathway is shared by bacteria, while the other is found in higher organisms such as multicellular animals. The latter pathway was activated in the radiation resistant mutants. The findings will appear in the October issue of the scientific journal Radiation Research. Other scientists contributing to the paper include Johan A. Muller, Jonathon Smith, Jill Petrakos and Douglas P. Wells. Many of these Achaeans thrive in extreme environments that would be quickly lethal to other life forms—such as volcanic boiling hot springs, caustic chemicals such as acids, hydrogen sulfide, or acids or alkaline conditions so extreme that they would burn through human skin. For this reason, the microbes are know