Giant bacterium carries thousands of genomes - Why does it bother?

Nature News ^ | 8 May 2008 | Heidi Ledford

[neverdem]

It seems like a peculiar case of genomic overkill: a single-celled bacterium has been found that keeps tens of thousands of copies of its genome. The finding sets a record for most genomes per cell, but also poses an obvious question: what could be the advantage of stashing away as much as 200,000 copies of your genome?

The number of genome copies in each cell varies by species. Many bacteria have only one copy; most cells in the human body contain two. Plants are notorious for being genomically promiscuous, picking up extra genomes then losing them again in a cycle that can occur repeatedly in a plant's evolutionary history. "You may think that as a blueprint of life, the genome might be very stable in size," says Sally Otto, an evolutionary biologist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. "So it is really quite remarkable that organisms vary so widely in the number of genome copies they have."

More genomes than any predator would want to swallow
Esther Angert

[neverdem]

micro ping

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Using a chain of deduction, we might assume that there is a reason for doing this. For example, I would be interested to know how this bacteria behaves in the presence of ionizing radiation.

One theory might be that it was more than usually resistant. But in turn, this raises a second question: just because it has lots of copies of its genome, can it use them?

That is, can it swap out a defective genome for a working one, or use a copy for error correction?

[VOA]

Giant bacterium carries thousands of genomes - Why does it bother?

Why I rarely read (fiction) novels.
Actual history/reality/science makes for much more incredible reading.

[bert]

The bacterium seems a lot like my dear departed mother who was a child of the depression and WWII and couldn’t bring herself to throw any thing away.

[GourmetDan]

"That is, can it swap out a defective genome for a working one, or use a copy for error correction?"

Good point.

This is consistent with a model that says that the cell controls genome expression and not the other way around.

Evidence that the chicken came first.

[null and void]

Angert suspects that Epulopiscium ’s extravagant collection of genomes may be a way for it to reap the benefits of size without the drawbacks of starvation. She hypothesizes that the genomes are arrayed just beneath Epulopiscium ’s cell membrane. This arrangement means that the cell could respond to nutrients and other environmental molecules without waiting for them to diffuse throughout the cell. “If you waited [were in the center of a cell and had to wait] for an environmental signal to get to you, relying solely on diffusion, it would take forever,” says Anger. “It would be really unreliable. This opens up that door of allowing the cell to get big and not allowing diffusion to limit its volume.”

For the science bashers, this is called a hypothesis, not a guess.

The big difference is that a hypothesis will be tested against observed facts. Scientists do not have the luxury of saying everything they read in some old book is unquestionable truth, they have to winkle out every fact from actually looking at reality.

Usually the first hypothesis is wrong. Each turn of the crank gathers more data, and allows more accurate hypothesis to evolve to fit the real world data.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

It’s the Michael Moore of bacterium.
“ For example, I would be interested to know how this bacteria behaves in the presence of cheeseburgers.

[muir_redwoods]

Here's a guess, not quite an hypothesis. The bacterium is testing out an unsuccessful mutation. It will prove to be no advantage, maybe. There might be some advantage in which case it will survive or even thrive.

Maybe

[GourmetDan]

"Scientists do not have the luxury of saying everything they read in some old book is unquestionable truth, they have to winkle out every fact from actually looking at reality. Usually the first hypothesis is wrong. Each turn of the crank gathers more data, and allows more accurate hypothesis to evolve to fit the real world data."

Translation: "We get to make it up as we go along and you don't. So Nyah."

[cardinal4]

This is consistent with a model that says that the cell controls genome expression and not the other way around.

I agree, the cell, with all of its machinery, golgi bodies, ribosomes, etc. can determine on its own what is needed for healthy protein and poly-peptide production. This, however, raises another question-if the bacteria can do self maintenance, how can we get our cells to do it?

[xjcsa]

Plants are notorious for being genomically promiscuous, picking up extra genomes then losing them again in a cycle that can occur repeatedly in a plant's evolutionary history.

Whores.

[neverdem]

Why I rarely read (fiction) novels.
Actual history/reality/science makes for much more incredible reading.

Exactly!

[null and void]

Good morning!

I warmed up the thread for you...

[RightWhale]

Epulopiscium, a gargantuan bacterium that lives in the intestines of unicornfish, contains up to 200,000 copies

Reason? Greed?

[Balding_Eagle]

For the science bashers, this is called a hypothesis, not a guess.

Science bashers are unable to comprehend even such a simple sentence.

[GourmetDan]

"Good morning! I warmed up the thread for you..."

Yeah, Christian-bashing is always acceptable...

[RichInOC]

“How do it know?”

[null and void]

Science bashers are unable to comprehend even such a simple sentence.

That's your hypothesis. Prove it.

[null and void]

BE? Never mind.

[tacticalogic]

Reason? Greed?

Who knows. Maybe they found it standing alongside the road with a sign that said "Will carry genomes for unicornfish poop."

[dighton]

You never know when you’ll need a spare genome, horse’s jawbone, beaded lampshade, or X-ray machine.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Cool! Thanks for posting.

I wonder what the rate of replication is for these bacteria, and whether they routinely go through cycles of DNA synthesis/genome duplication without dividing. It’s possible that this large number of genomes began as a consequence of defective bacterial replication, and is now retained because of the advantage this gives to a large cell for protein production. The point someone made about whether or not these genomes are all active is an important one. Probably not all are active at any given point in time.

[tacticalogic]

Probably not all are active at any given point in time.

Would the inactive ones "tar pit" a virus?

[AnAmericanMother]

I don't feel so bad about the state of our spare room any more.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

That's an interesting question. If there were enough homology with the nucleic acids of an invading virus it might be possible for the bacterium to tie-up the viral genome such that it couldn't replicate.

[elcid1970]

Hey, Admin Moderator:

Could you please relocate this thread so the words “President’s Daughter to Wed” and “Giant Bacterium” don’t appear on my screen at the same time?

I mean, it is so DailyKos to juxtapose the two!

[GOPJ]

Knight Errant, I suspect you miss your mother — and that she taught you much that made you a conservative... A toast to Mothers...

[null and void]

Regarding your tagline, do you have Kartagener’s syndrome perchance?

[GourmetDan]

"Regarding your tagline, do you have Kartagener’s syndrome perchance?"

No, you?

[Erasmus]

Hmmm. The protection of the herd.

[Balding_Eagle]

BE? Never mind.

Heh heh. Funny how proof sometimes just pops up on it's own.

[null and void]

No. Although one of my old roommates did find a kid in Vietnam who had it.

[GourmetDan]

Indeed

[neverdem]

Tobacco as a self-medication and ‘wellness'

The Uneven Playing Field link to thread & regular NY Times' webpage

The Uneven Playing Field Times' printer frindly page, it's long, but interesting.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair (ACL) Slide show - Female athletes rupture their A.C.L.’s almost five times more than male athletes.

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[GourmetDan]

"No. Although one of my old roommates did find a kid in Vietnam who had it."

Asian kid huh? How many countries did you and your roommate visit?

[Balding_Eagle]

the expression or feeling of uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's own accomplishment, good fortune, etc........... [Origin: 1705–15]

It is fitting. Thanks.

[null and void]

He was there on a fully paid “vacation” courtesy Uncle Sam during the Vietnam War, as a Green Beret medic. Which was how he found out the kid had Kartagener’s.

Until a business trip last year, I’d never been to Asia.

[GourmetDan]

"the expression or feeling of uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's own accomplishment, good fortune, etc..........."

Sure is. Thanks.

[GourmetDan]

"He was there on a fully paid “vacation” courtesy Uncle Sam during the Vietnam War, as a Green Beret medic."

Yeah, my dad got one of those as did a lot of guys I knew.

Myself, I've never been to Asia.

[elkfersupper]

It’a a mainstream Republican.....no aim, no goal, incapable of shedding of excess baggage.

[Balding_Eagle]

That part fits too, which is why I included it, it was just that the other was first on my list.

I grew up on a farm, farmed for many years and learned to take satisfaction when I’ve done a good job.

[null and void]

Can’t speak for all of Asia, but I enjoyed the few days I spent in Kao-hsiung.

My dad mostly liked the times he spent in Asia, except for those times when the Japanese, Koreans/Commie Chinese and Vietnamese were trying to kill him...

[GourmetDan]

"That part fits too, which is why I included it..."

I agree.

[GourmetDan]

"My dad mostly liked the times he spent in Asia, except for those times when the Japanese, Koreans/Commie Chinese and Vietnamese were trying to kill him...

I don't think my dad enjoyed the Phillipines (WWII), Korea or Vietnam, for various reaons. All different. While he didn't actually fight in Korea, he served there (cold!). There aren't many like him left.

[null and void]

No, not many. When last I heard only about 13,000 surviving vets of those three wars.

The most prized gift I ever got him was a cap that says “Veteran WWII-Korea-Vietnam”.

It is a real door and conversation opener. He loves it.

[GourmetDan]

"The most prized gift I ever got him was a cap that says “Veteran WWII-Korea-Vietnam”."

Yeah, our 'troubles' are just selfish crybaby stuff compared to fighting and surviving 3 wars.

They truly are the greatest generation.

[null and void]

So far. I still hold out some hope for our kids. Many of them don’t have quite the sense of entitlement the hippy generation has. Nor the illusion that we can love our enemies into loving us.

[GourmetDan]

"So far. I still hold out some hope for our kids. Many of them don’t have quite the sense of entitlement the hippy generation has. Nor the illusion that we can love our enemies into loving us."

Isn't it funny how often the children reject the values of their parents?

I'm so conservative my kids may turn out to be flaming liberals! Yikes.

[null and void]

LOL! That’s where I have a HUGH and SERIES advantage over you.

The ex is a flaming liberal....