Could These New Species Of Microbes’ Carbonic Appetite Possibly Save Our Planet?
Scientists have estimated there to be about one trillion species of microbes on Earth, 99.999 percent of which are yet to be discovered! Really, have you wondered how much you actually know your planet?
During recent studies, scientists at the University of Texas at Austin’s Marine Science Institute discovered nearly two dozen new types of microbes in the extreme hot waters on the bed of the Guaymas Basin, in the Gulf of California. These previously undiscovered species differ greatly from their known brethren in many ways, making them a whole new branch in the Tree of Life. These microbes have been found to have a unique characteristic; they have the capability to consume many hydrocarbon-containing gases produced in the volcanic depths of the basin, such as methane, propane and butane that are known to be effective greenhouse gases.
Our Earth faces rapid decline in its atmospheric layer due to the release of pollutant gases that are degrading it and thus, increasing the harmful effect of ultraviolet rays that are tapping with global temperatures and melting polar icecaps, raising sea levels and flooding seaside settlements. These microbes could be the answer to all these problems! Carbon dioxide is one of the main greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and with the newfound knowledge that the release of this gas could be cut short drastically with the help the microbes, a new era of Environmental Awareness and Conservational Activities could take form and be studied to further find better solutions to this grave problem of ours.
Moreover, it can also be considered a possibility that these microbes are the reason for the survival of marine life at the deep sea level and are also responsible for preventing deep water life from threats due to large scale oil spills as a result of human activity.
Lets not forget the fact that all the knowledge that we possess of the oceans and marine life is only 5 percent of what is actually there, which means 95 percent is still left undiscovered! Out of this, only 1 percent of the ocean floor has so far been observed. So just imagine all the types of creatures and biological life that lurk in those dark depths, left unknown to man. So, does this mean there can be many more species of such bacteria at the bottom, yet to be discovered?
“This discovery shows that the deep sea contains expansive unexplored biodiversity and microscopic organisms capable of degrading oil and other harmful chemicals,” said Assistant Professor of Marine Science, Brett Baker, the primary investigator of this research. The action of millions of years of decomposition of marine plants and animals on the ocean floor, hastened by the high temperatures due to volcanic activity, has produced large reservoirs of hydrocarbon gases, “and these microorganisms prevent greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere” stated Brett.
The study conducted them represented the largest-ever genomic sampling of the Guaymas Basin sediments, and was co-authored by former UT postdoctoral researcher Nina Dombrowski and University of North Carolina professor Andreas P. Teske.
For the study, Baker’s team investigated interactions between the microbial communities discovered and their nutritious environment by taking samples of sediments and microbes in nature, then extracting DNA from the samples. This DNA is sequenced to piece together separate genomes and the data is analyzed to see how these microbes consume the nutrients. For this, they try to look for organisms that have been studied before and try to look for similarities and differences.
“This might initially sound easy, but really is not, since often more than half of the genes we find are so far un-characterized and unknown,” said Dombrowski, who is now at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
The researchers analyzed round about sediments from 2000 meters below the surface where temperature rises to about 200 degrees Celsius due to underground volcanic activity. About 500 different genomes were recovered, 22 of which were so genetically diverse they represented a whole new phyla. Mapping the Tree of Life has always been a crucial factor to understanding all aspects of biology, and this has been made easier with the help of DNA sequencing and computer approaches used by scientists today.
An interesting fact is that these samples were collected using the Alvin submersible, the same sub that discovered the sunken carcass of Titanic! This was because of the extreme environments that the microbes live in.
Considering the massive number of undiscovered biodiversity that exists in the Deep Blue, these researchers are right to believe that the discovery of these new species is just the tip of the iceberg in the further variety of life that exists in the Guaymas Basin alone. With advancements in the world of science, these deep-sea dwellers could help humans solve many of the problems that Earth faces today. Although the primary causes of many of these hurdles are humans themselves, it makes it our responsibility to help save the planet.
This paper was just the beginning of the journey to understanding these microorganisms and finding ways to use them in treating multiple other problems. So, the next time you look up into space and think about all the mysteries it holds, turn your gaze down to Earth! For the journey to unraveling the secrets of the universe must start with the proper knowledge of our own Home.
References
https://phys.org/news/2018-11-deep-sea-zone-hosts-carbon.html
