Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following is a characteristic of Nanoarcheum equitans?
Which of the following is a characteristic of Nanoarcheum equitans?
- Obligate symbiont (correct)
- Free-living organism
- Largest known genome
- Autotrophic metabolism
Euryarchaeota include methanogens, thermophiles, and extreme halophiles.
Euryarchaeota include methanogens, thermophiles, and extreme halophiles.
True (A)
What is the unique characteristic of Thermoplasma and Ferroplasma regarding their cell structure?
What is the unique characteristic of Thermoplasma and Ferroplasma regarding their cell structure?
lack cell walls
The archaeon Pyrolobus fumari holds the current record for life's temperature limit, growing at ______ °C.
The archaeon Pyrolobus fumari holds the current record for life's temperature limit, growing at ______ °C.
Which of the following describes the metabolic strategy of Nitrosopumilus maritimus?
Which of the following describes the metabolic strategy of Nitrosopumilus maritimus?
Large-insert libraries are created for sequencing small fragments of DNA.
Large-insert libraries are created for sequencing small fragments of DNA.
What is 'genome walking'?
What is 'genome walking'?
16S rRNA surveys in the 1990s found abundant archaeal sequences leading to the discovery of ______.
16S rRNA surveys in the 1990s found abundant archaeal sequences leading to the discovery of ______.
Which of the following genomic features was identified from fosmids, providing evidence for ammonia oxidation in Crenarchaeota?
Which of the following genomic features was identified from fosmids, providing evidence for ammonia oxidation in Crenarchaeota?
Archaeal diversity is restricted to extreme environments and is not found in planktonic marine habitats.
Archaeal diversity is restricted to extreme environments and is not found in planktonic marine habitats.
What is the primary function of a large-insert library in genomics?
What is the primary function of a large-insert library in genomics?
In the context of molecular biology, the term 'contigs' refers to individual genes within a genome.
In the context of molecular biology, the term 'contigs' refers to individual genes within a genome.
What is a key ecological advantage that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) have over ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in marine environments?
What is a key ecological advantage that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) have over ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in marine environments?
Which of the following is a characteristic that distinguishes Archaea's membrane lipids from those of Bacteria and Eukarya?
Which of the following is a characteristic that distinguishes Archaea's membrane lipids from those of Bacteria and Eukarya?
Match each domain of life with its defining feature.
Match each domain of life with its defining feature.
The concept of the 'progenote' suggests that early cellular evolution involved ______ sharing of genetic material.
The concept of the 'progenote' suggests that early cellular evolution involved ______ sharing of genetic material.
Which of the following is a feature of the Asgard archaea that suggests a close relationship with Eukaryotes?
Which of the following is a feature of the Asgard archaea that suggests a close relationship with Eukaryotes?
Lateral gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer are different terms that mean different things.
Lateral gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer are different terms that mean different things.
What key evolutionary event is hypothesized to have occurred around 3.5 billion years ago, marking a change in the mode of inheritance?
What key evolutionary event is hypothesized to have occurred around 3.5 billion years ago, marking a change in the mode of inheritance?
According to the two-domain system of classification, eukaryotes arose from a merger of Archaea and ______ .
According to the two-domain system of classification, eukaryotes arose from a merger of Archaea and ______ .
Which of the following describes the membrane lipid composition unique to Archaea?
Which of the following describes the membrane lipid composition unique to Archaea?
Most currently known extremophiles are from the Bacteria domain.
Most currently known extremophiles are from the Bacteria domain.
What is the role of the amoA gene in ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA)?
What is the role of the amoA gene in ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA)?
The archaeon Cenarchaeum symbiosum lives as an extracellular ______ of the sponge Axinella mexicana.
The archaeon Cenarchaeum symbiosum lives as an extracellular ______ of the sponge Axinella mexicana.
What is FISH used for, in the context of this content?
What is FISH used for, in the context of this content?
The membranes of monoderms have an outer membrane.
The membranes of monoderms have an outer membrane.
What does ESP stand for, in context of Asgard archaea?
What does ESP stand for, in context of Asgard archaea?
The fact that archaea have ______ is why scientists think eukaryotes may have arose from them.
The fact that archaea have ______ is why scientists think eukaryotes may have arose from them.
Which of the following are reasons that scientists are discovering previously uncultivated Crenarchaeota?
Which of the following are reasons that scientists are discovering previously uncultivated Crenarchaeota?
The crenarchaeota have low diversity.
The crenarchaeota have low diversity.
What is a key characteristic of Sulfolobus solfataricus?
What is a key characteristic of Sulfolobus solfataricus?
The archaeon, Pyrolobus fumari, lives in the walls of ______.
The archaeon, Pyrolobus fumari, lives in the walls of ______.
Which of the following is the first revolution in bacterial genome sequencing?
Which of the following is the first revolution in bacterial genome sequencing?
Pac Bio SMRT sequencing has highly accurate, short read lengths.
Pac Bio SMRT sequencing has highly accurate, short read lengths.
Provide an example of a sequencing technology that utilizes single-molecule templates.
Provide an example of a sequencing technology that utilizes single-molecule templates.
The third revolution is a process using a technique called ______-molecule sequencing.
The third revolution is a process using a technique called ______-molecule sequencing.
In the context of Asgard archaea and the origins of eukaryotes, what do scientists mean by: 'Key time points in eukaryogenesis are represented on a schematic unrooted tree of archaea and eukaryotes'?
In the context of Asgard archaea and the origins of eukaryotes, what do scientists mean by: 'Key time points in eukaryogenesis are represented on a schematic unrooted tree of archaea and eukaryotes'?
An uncultured micoorganism means that it has never been tested or cultured in a lab.
An uncultured micoorganism means that it has never been tested or cultured in a lab.
Name one technique to understand more about microbial communities.
Name one technique to understand more about microbial communities.
______ and ______ are both cultivated and uncultivated.
______ and ______ are both cultivated and uncultivated.
The lipid tails of archaea
The lipid tails of archaea
Bacteria can have S layers on them.
Bacteria can have S layers on them.
What is another name bacteria can be called to describe the material in their membrane?
What is another name bacteria can be called to describe the material in their membrane?
The archaea has highly diverse ______ structure.
The archaea has highly diverse ______ structure.
Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Nanoarcheaota?
Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Nanoarcheaota?
Euryarchaeota are exclusively thermophiles and hyperthermophiles.
Euryarchaeota are exclusively thermophiles and hyperthermophiles.
What is the primary characteristic that defines acidophiles like Thermoplasma/Ferroplasma?
What is the primary characteristic that defines acidophiles like Thermoplasma/Ferroplasma?
The archaeon _______, notable for its ability to grow at 113°C, also shows resistance to autoclaving.
The archaeon _______, notable for its ability to grow at 113°C, also shows resistance to autoclaving.
What is the role of amoA genes in Thaumarchaeota?
What is the role of amoA genes in Thaumarchaeota?
Large-insert libraries are limited to containing a maximum insert size of 10 kb of DNA.
Large-insert libraries are limited to containing a maximum insert size of 10 kb of DNA.
What is the primary advantage of using fosmids and cosmids in genomic studies?
What is the primary advantage of using fosmids and cosmids in genomic studies?
The process of extending contigs by designing PCR primers to the termini and 'walking' out from clone ends is a strategy used in _______ sequencing.
The process of extending contigs by designing PCR primers to the termini and 'walking' out from clone ends is a strategy used in _______ sequencing.
What is the purpose of the 16S rRNA gene in constructing large-insert libraries?
What is the purpose of the 16S rRNA gene in constructing large-insert libraries?
Sanger sequencing is typically characterized by high throughput and short read lengths.
Sanger sequencing is typically characterized by high throughput and short read lengths.
Which of the following methods involves sequencing by synthesis and amplified templates generated in vitro, known for their high accuracy but shorter read lengths?
Which of the following methods involves sequencing by synthesis and amplified templates generated in vitro, known for their high accuracy but shorter read lengths?
In contrast to bacterial cell membranes, archaeal membranes contain _________ linkages rather than ester linkages.
In contrast to bacterial cell membranes, archaeal membranes contain _________ linkages rather than ester linkages.
What is the general function of ATP synthase?
What is the general function of ATP synthase?
A distinguishing feature of the Asgard archaea is a lack of membrane protrusions.
A distinguishing feature of the Asgard archaea is a lack of membrane protrusions.
Which group is currently considered to be the closest known relatives of eukaryotes?
Which group is currently considered to be the closest known relatives of eukaryotes?
Which of the following membrane adaptation contributes to archaea thriving in extreme environments?
Which of the following membrane adaptation contributes to archaea thriving in extreme environments?
The Last Eukaryotic Archaeal Common Ancestor (LEACA) is well-defined with complete knowledge of all its cellular features.
The Last Eukaryotic Archaeal Common Ancestor (LEACA) is well-defined with complete knowledge of all its cellular features.
What genomic finding led to discovery of ammonia-oxidizing archaea?
What genomic finding led to discovery of ammonia-oxidizing archaea?
The archaeon ________, was the first ammonia-oxidizing archaeon isolated in 2005.
The archaeon ________, was the first ammonia-oxidizing archaeon isolated in 2005.
What is a biofilm?
What is a biofilm?
Halophiles are organisms that thrive in?
Halophiles are organisms that thrive in?
Thermoplasma have cell walls.
Thermoplasma have cell walls.
Which of the following archaeal groups includes methanogens?
Which of the following archaeal groups includes methanogens?
Planktonic archaea are not found in the ocean.
Planktonic archaea are not found in the ocean.
The archaeon Pyrolobus fumari grows at?
The archaeon Pyrolobus fumari grows at?
Crenarchaeota are only thermophiles and hyperthermophiles.
Crenarchaeota are only thermophiles and hyperthermophiles.
What are MAGs?
What are MAGs?
When building large insert libraries, you do not need to screen for 16S rRNA genes.
When building large insert libraries, you do not need to screen for 16S rRNA genes.
Illumina sequencing can only be done with templates generated in vivo.
Illumina sequencing can only be done with templates generated in vivo.
Which sequencing method has low accuracy but long read lengths?
Which sequencing method has low accuracy but long read lengths?
In the "Darwinian threshold" depiction, RNA comes first before DNA.
In the "Darwinian threshold" depiction, RNA comes first before DNA.
What is the order of events for creating large-insert libraries?
What is the order of events for creating large-insert libraries?
AOA stands for Ammonium-Oxidizing Bacteria.
AOA stands for Ammonium-Oxidizing Bacteria.
Match each statement with the correct sequencing strategy.
Match each statement with the correct sequencing strategy.
Why was the discovery of Asgard Archaea so important?
Why was the discovery of Asgard Archaea so important?
All prokaryotes contain peptoglycans.
All prokaryotes contain peptoglycans.
What was a prior limiting factor in archaeal research that metagenome assembling genomes helped to ameliorate?
What was a prior limiting factor in archaeal research that metagenome assembling genomes helped to ameliorate?
The concept of the _________ was that early entities were still in the process of evolving the relationship between genotype and phenotype.
The concept of the _________ was that early entities were still in the process of evolving the relationship between genotype and phenotype.
Which of the following are two modes for microbial genome evolution?
Which of the following are two modes for microbial genome evolution?
The archaeal cell membrane contains a lipid bilayer exactly the same as bacteria.
The archaeal cell membrane contains a lipid bilayer exactly the same as bacteria.
What is the name of an enzyme involved in energy generation that exists across eukaryotes, archaea, and bacteria.
What is the name of an enzyme involved in energy generation that exists across eukaryotes, archaea, and bacteria.
Scientists discovered 16S rRNA of archaeal organisms living in ________ concentrations.
Scientists discovered 16S rRNA of archaeal organisms living in ________ concentrations.
Which archaeal phylum includes species known for thriving in extreme halophilic conditions?
Which archaeal phylum includes species known for thriving in extreme halophilic conditions?
Nanoarchaeum equitans can survive independently without a host organism.
Nanoarchaeum equitans can survive independently without a host organism.
What is the approximate genome size of Nanoarcheum equitans, making it one of the smallest known genomes?
What is the approximate genome size of Nanoarcheum equitans, making it one of the smallest known genomes?
The archaeal species Sulfolobus solfataricus is known to thrive in hot, sulfur-rich environments and is classified as a ______.
The archaeal species Sulfolobus solfataricus is known to thrive in hot, sulfur-rich environments and is classified as a ______.
Match the following archaeal groups with their key characteristics.
Match the following archaeal groups with their key characteristics.
Which of the following is a characteristic of Thermoplasma/ Ferroplasma?
Which of the following is a characteristic of Thermoplasma/ Ferroplasma?
Marine Group II Euryarchaeota are well-understood for their specific ecological roles in marine environments.
Marine Group II Euryarchaeota are well-understood for their specific ecological roles in marine environments.
What is metagenomics, and how has it contributed to the discovery of new archaeal species?
What is metagenomics, and how has it contributed to the discovery of new archaeal species?
Pyrolobus fumari is notable for its ability to grow at extremely high temperatures, holding the current record for life's temperature limit at ______ °C.
Pyrolobus fumari is notable for its ability to grow at extremely high temperatures, holding the current record for life's temperature limit at ______ °C.
Match the following scientists or figures with their contributions to the study of archaea.
Match the following scientists or figures with their contributions to the study of archaea.
What is the significance of identifying amoA genes in archaeal genomes?
What is the significance of identifying amoA genes in archaeal genomes?
The archaeon Nitrosopumilus maritimus uses nitrite as its primary energy source.
The archaeon Nitrosopumilus maritimus uses nitrite as its primary energy source.
What is the ecological significance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in marine environments?
What is the ecological significance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in marine environments?
Large-insert libraries, utilized to discover archaea, contain DNA fragments that range from ______ to 30-40 kb.
Large-insert libraries, utilized to discover archaea, contain DNA fragments that range from ______ to 30-40 kb.
Match the following components to the correct domain(s) of life
Match the following components to the correct domain(s) of life
What genomic sequencing tool was developed by Frederick Sanger?
What genomic sequencing tool was developed by Frederick Sanger?
Horizontal gene transfer is the passing of genes from parent to offspring.
Horizontal gene transfer is the passing of genes from parent to offspring.
In the context of early cellular evolution, what does the term 'progenote' refer to?
In the context of early cellular evolution, what does the term 'progenote' refer to?
The TACK superphylum consists of Thaumarchaeota, Aigarchaeota, Crenachaeota and ______.
The TACK superphylum consists of Thaumarchaeota, Aigarchaeota, Crenachaeota and ______.
Match the following archaeal lineages with their discovery and relevance to eukaryotic evolution.
Match the following archaeal lineages with their discovery and relevance to eukaryotic evolution.
Flashcards
Archaea
Archaea
A domain of life consisting of single-celled organisms lacking a nucleus, often thriving in extreme environments. Includes Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, Korarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota
Crenarchaeota
Crenarchaeota
A phylum within the Archaea domain that often thrives in thermophilic (heat-loving) and hyperthermophilic environments.
Euryarchaeota
Euryarchaeota
A diverse phylum within the Archaea domain, containing methanogens, extreme halophiles, and thermophiles, among others.
Nanoarchaeota
Nanoarchaeota
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Nanonarcheum equitans
Nanonarcheum equitans
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Igniococcus
Igniococcus
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Asgard Archaea
Asgard Archaea
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Marine Group II Euryarchaeota
Marine Group II Euryarchaeota
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Eukarya
Eukarya
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LUCA
LUCA
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PCNA
PCNA
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rRNA
rRNA
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rRNA FISH
rRNA FISH
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Horizontal Gene Transfer
Horizontal Gene Transfer
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Vertical Gene Transfer
Vertical Gene Transfer
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Metagenomics
Metagenomics
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S-layer
S-layer
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Progenote
Progenote
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Psychrophiles
Psychrophiles
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Thaumarchaeota
Thaumarchaeota
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Chemolithotrophs
Chemolithotrophs
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ATP-synthase.
ATP-synthase.
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Study Notes
- The archaeal diversity and the evolution of life are important topics in microbiology.
Nanoarcheaota
- Nanonarcheum equitans are obligate symbionts with the smallest genome (0.5Mb) that are 0.4µm in diameter.
- Nanonarcheum equitans uses Igniococcus as its host.
Euryarchaeota
- Euryarchaeota are composed of Thermophiles, hyperthermophiles, methanogens, extreme halophiles, Archaeoglobus, and Thermoplasma/Ferroplasma, and uncultivated groups.
- Methanogens are one of the few microbial groups both phenotypically and phylogenetically congruent.
Thermoplasma/Ferroplasma
- Thermoplasma/Ferroplasma are acidophiles, and can grow below pH=0
- This species lacks cell walls, which is similar to mycoplasmas
- These organisms are obtained from coal refuse piles, which contain pyrite FeS2 that heat up spontaneously
- Ferroplasma, which grows in 35°C temperatures, can be found in mine tailings and coal refuse.
Marine Group II Euryarchaeota
- These are thermoplasma relatives whose function is unknown.
High Percentage Planktonic Archaea
- High percentages of planktonic Archaea are found in the ocean, especially the Antarctic and quantifications are done using rDNA hybridization, not QPCR.
Crenarchaeota and Thaumarcheaota
- Crenarchaeota and Thaumarcheaota are composed of thermophiles, hyperthermophiles, mesophiles, and uncultivated groups.
Crenarchaeotal Diversity
- The majority of Crenarchaeotal diversity is uncultivated, so determining Crenarchaeotal function remains difficult.
- Cultivated species are named, but uncultivated species are indicated by pSL# and pJP#.
Sulfolobus solfataricus
- This species lives in hot sulfur-rich environments
- Sulfolobus solfataricus was discovered by Tom Brock
- The species is a lobed coccus that is both a chemolithotroph and chemoorganotroph
- Sulfolobus solfataricus grows in 75-87°C and a pH of 2-3
Pyrolobus fumari
- This species grows at 113°C
- Pyrolobus fumari is the current record for life's temperature limit
- This species lives in walls of black smokers and is a chemolithotroph
- Pyrolobus fumari is resistant to autoclaving at 121°C
Marine Group I Crenarcheaota
- They are relatives thermophiles, with unknown function
Tracking of Crenarchaeota Abundance
- FISH is used to track the abundance of uncultivated low-temperature Crenarchaeota.
Novelty and Physiology
- Phylogenetic novelty, novel species, or phyla identified by environmental gene surveys (16S rRNA or functional genes are possible.
- Without a close relative it is not possible to link 16S rRNA identity to function
- There is the discovery of greater phylogenetic distribution of a known physiology
- There is the discovery of previously unknown physiology in low-temperature Crenarchaeota
Diversity, Physiology and Evolution
- Expansion is observed using archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs).
Large-Insert Libraries
- Large-insert libraries have inserts in the range of 40-300 kb (1-20% genome)
Bacterial Genome Sequencing
- Sanger sequencing includes sequencing by synthesis, amplified templates generated in vivo, and colony picking and plasmid preparation.
- 454 sequencing includes sequencing by synthesis and amplified templates generated in vitro. 454 also has high accuracy outside homopolymers but short read lengths
- Illumina sequencing includes sequencing by synthesis, amplified templates generated in vitro, and high accuracy with short-read length
- PacBio SMRT sequencing includes sequencing by synthesis, single-molecule templates, and low accuracy but long-read lengths
- Oxford Nanopore sequencing includes Nanopore sequencing, single-molecule templates, and low accuracy but long-read lengths
Sanger Sequencing
- This is a chain-termination method.
- The method's inventor, Frederick Sanger, won two Nobel prizes in 1958 and 1980.
Large-Insert Libraries
- In large insert libraries, screening occurs for genes of interest like 16S rRNA and functional genes
- Fosmids and cosmids are plasmid vectors based on the bacteriophage lambda which make 1-10 copies per cell and contain 30-40 kb of DNA
- Extends contigs by designing PCR primers
Ammonia Oxidation in Crenarchaea
- Genomic evidence for ammonia oxidation in Crenarchaea is available from fosmids
Nitrosopumilus Maritimus
- Nitrosopumilus maritimus is the first cultivated mesophilic crenarchaoete
- It performs ammonia oxidization so ammonia works as a sole energy source.
- It also does carbon fixation, using bicarbonate as the sole carbon source.
- This is an ammonium-oxidizing archaea (AOA).
Cenarchaeum symbiosum
- Cenarchaeum symbiosum is an extracellular symbiont of the sponge Axinella mexicana with a sequenced genome assembled from a fosmid library
- Cenarchaeum symbiosum is a lineage derived from a thermophilic common ancestor.
Thaumarchaeota
- They are have wider distribution of low temp crens
Discovery of Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea (AOA): Summary
- In the 1990s 16S rRNA surveys found abundant archaeal sequences in marine and terrestrial environments.
- For ammonia oxidation, the first step of nitrification, genes homologous to bacterial amoA (ammonia monooxygenase) were identified in archaea uncultivated genomes.
- In 2005, Using this genomic clue, the first ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, Nitrosopumilus maritimus, was isolated
- N. maritimus grows autotrophically, using ammonia as an energy source and producing nitrite
- amoA genes are widely distributed among other Thaumarchaeota
- AOA are more abundant than AOB in marine, soil, and extreme habitats and are more efficient at low ammonia concentrations, giving them an ecological advantage over AOB in nutrient-poor (oligotrophic) environments.
Evolutionary Mode of the Progenote
- The progenote = pre-genome cell, which Woese and Fox described:
- The "progenote" was in the process of evolving the relationship between genotype and phenotype
- Progenotes are no individual cells, but "supermolecular aggregates" doing communal sharing of genetic material.
Two Modes of Microbial Genome Evolution
- Vertical and and horizonal gene transfer of chromosome.
- Transformation, Transduction, Conjugation
- Changes in evolutionary modes are observed when fossils are compared
Archaea Membranes
- Translation,Transcription, DNA replication, transcription, DNA replication, and membrane proteins may universal among all the archaea.
- ATP synthase is a flexible enzyme for energy generation in Archaea.
- The components of membranes include a Lipid Bilayer and Cell Membrane
- The Archaea have isoprene where the Bacteria have fatty acids.
Archaea vs Bacteria
- Archaeal cenancestor lacks membrane
- Both the isoprene lipids and fatty acids could have allowed for a surface metabolism of nutrients.
Bacterial Cell Wall Structure
- There are two types: monoderm, or Gm+ and diderm where Gm+ is not present
- Monoderms have peptidoglycan
S-layers
- More architectural complexity is observed with S-layers.
Asgrad Archaea
- Lineages are named after Norse Gods
- They have several eukaryotic-signature proteins (ESPs): homologs of eukaryotic cytoskeleton, membrane trafficking, and cell division proteins
- They are the closest known relatives of eukaryotes
- They redefine the tree of life and advances our knowledge and understanding of the cellular evolution
- Most Asgard’s metabolic diversity is more like bacteria/archaea in that they do mixotrophy.
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