Betsy Smeed » Microbiology

Some trees ‘farm’ bacteria

Betsy — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:46:42 +0000

From science centric, oak and beech seem to encourage root microbes to facilitate mineral weathering. Root microbes break down minerals to create usable nutrients, like iron, to the trees.

Wallabies and bats harbor ‘fossil’ genes from the most deadly family of human viruses

Betsy — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:59:07 +0000

From Physorg.com, marsupials, bats, rodents and tenrecs harbor the genes for Filoviruses, such as Ebola and Marburg virus. This shows the power of examining genomes to discover not only shared ancestry but common infection and incorporation of virus into genomes.

Abstract

Can bacteria make you smarter?

Betsy — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:01:57 +0000

From Physorg.com, Mycobacterium vaccae(a soil bacteria) was fed to mice and the mice were tested in maze runs to see if it increased learning ability. The increase in learning was only temporary, however.

They had a throw-away line about kids going outside to help with mood and learning. The implication being that outdoor activity is good for kids. But let’s get back to reality. Ingesting the bacteria lead to noticeable improvements. I think a second study should be undertaken to study farmer/gardeners/landscapers to see if there is any improvement. Especially to see a relationship between just being outdoors and actual contact with the soil.

Also something implicit with this study. That when humans started farming, we must have felt the benefits from M. vaccae. This is when we see a “great leap forward” with regard to engineering monuments, writing and the like.

Sushi may ‘transfer genes’ to gut

Betsy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:07:03 +0000

From BBC News: The marine bacteria found on sushi transferred its genetic material to the microfauna of humans who consume sushi.

Bacterial ‘ropes’ tie down shifting Southwest

Betsy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:38:43 +0000

From Physorg, several species of cyanobacteria create rope-like structures that “allows them to colonize physically unstable sedimentary environments, and to act as successful pioneers in the biostabilization process.”(From the abstract) These ropes wrap around grains of sand to prevent the sand grains from shifting.

Abstract

Adding up for life

Betsy — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:15:33 +0000

From the Universe today, So how would a scientist know if a newly discovered planet has life? Two scientists will create an equation that will answer the question. Figuring in variables such as the presence of water, habitability, radiation, etc. the equation will determine the likelihood of life arising.

New Microbe Strain Makes More Electricity, Faster

Betsy — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:08:49 +0000

From Science daily, a new strain of Geobactor, the darling of electricity producers, has been discovered. Using selective pressure, a team from University of Massachusetts Amherst has evolved a strain that forms a thinner biofilm.

Abstract

Scientists Find a Microbe Haven at Ocean’s Surface

Betsy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:59:44 +0000

From the New York Times, a cool finding about a microlayer of microbes at the oceans’ surface. These microbes form an oily biofilm which maybe involved with gas exchange in the ocean.

Less Nickle means more life

Betsy — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:40:10 +0000

From Universe today, a look at banded iron formations, show the decrease of nickel in seawater over time. It is speculated that methanogens, which are known to need nickle, became less abundant and lead to the rise of oxygen producers and more complex life.

Great Lake’s Sinkholes Host Exotic Ecosystems Akin To Iced-over Antarctic Lakes

Betsy — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:18:11 +0000

From Science Daily, in my backyard sinkhole in Lake Huron they have found cyanobacteria that uses sulfur in photosynthesis. Like the lakes of Antarctica the sinkhole house unique organisms that NASA has been looking at for clue to life on Mars. Which also could produce novel compounds useful in biotechnology, medicine, etc.