Though nitrogen is an abundant element in the Earth’s atmosphere, plants can’t use it unless it’s been converted into another form. An estimated 80 percent of the nitrogen “fixed” through biological means comes from the symbiosis between bacteria in the root nodules and legume plants such as lentils and peanuts. This relationship is thought to…
Why Sequence Desulfurococcus species?
The genus Desulfurococcus represents a unique clade (a group of organisms all descended from a common ancestor) in the domain of archaea that is not currently represented in the publicly available genomic databases. This scenario will change to some extent as Desulfurococcus mucosus genome sequence is determined under the GEBA (Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and…
Why Sequence Dehalogenimonas lykanthrorepellens?
When researchers want to understand how microbes interact with toxic materials, they often sequence the organisms collected at waste sites. Bacteria such as Dehalococcoides and Dehalogenimonas lykanthrorepellens are found in soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated compounds such as the dry-cleaning agent tetrachloroethene and the industrial solvent trichloroethene. Cleaning up these contaminated sites can cost…
Why Sequence Archaeal transcriptomes?
Scientists classify organisms under one of three categories: eukaryotes, which include plants, animals and fungi, bacteria and archaea. Some researchers think archaea may be descended from some of the earlier life forms on the plant, and that they haven’t changed very much over time. By studying them, researchers hope to learn more about the origins…
Why Sequence Sphaerochaeta pleomorpha and Sphaerochaeta globus?
Bioremediation uses microbes to break down organic contaminants in polluted soil or water in order to restore or protect natural resources. One example involves using microbes to remove the chlorinated contaminants in the groundwater. The process can take a while, depending on factors such as the size of the polluted area, the amount of chemicals…
Why Sequence PAH-Degrading Burkholderia?
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread pollutants of soil and sediment. Many are carcinogenic and are contaminants of concern at DOE sites. The health threats of PAHs are compounded by the fact that they are fat soluble and have a strong potential to accumulate in tissues and to increase in concentration over time. Thus, PAH-contaminated…
Why Sequence Cycloclasticus pugetii (a PAH-Degrading Bacterium)?
Cleaning up contaminated sediment usually involves either capping the area, dredging the waterway to remove the pollution, or waiting for natural processes to do the clean-up work without human intervention. The last option involves microbes such as Cyclasticus pugetii, a bacterium found in marine sediments around the world. C. pugetti breaks down aromatic hydrocarbons, most…
Why Sequence Rhodopseudomonas palustris strain DX-1?
To date, six strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris have been sequenced, all by the JGI, but the strain to be sequenced under this proposal has a most shocking ability: it is exoelectrogenic. In other words, it can directly generate electricity from the biodegradation of organic and inorganic matter. In fact, it produces very high power densities…
Why Sequence SAR11 Genome Evolution?
The SAR11 clade or group of species is the smallest and most abundant of marine organisms. Each bacterium is so small, some 500,000 of them can be found in a single millimeter of seawater. Unsurprisingly, SAR11 have the smallest genomes of any free-living microorganism. SAR11 makes up a quarter of the marine microorganisms in the…
Why Sequence Methylotenera species?
Metabolism of organic C1 compounds (compounds containing no carbon-carbon bonds) is an important part of the global carbon cycle. Methane has been recognized as one of the major C1 compounds in the environment and a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. While global emissions of other C1 compounds (methanol, methylated amines) have historically attracted less…