It seems like they could sequence the genomes to see how “different” the genomes are. They may have to take in to consideration epigenetic control of dna expression also.
When I was in school I was taught evolution ALWAYS occurs...but there are many extant organisms which show little or no change...cockroaches...coelocanth...tuatara...wollemi pine...and now these bacteria...so the oxymoron “living fossils” was coined.
Would be interesting to see the sizes of the genome and the different endonucleases and energy transfer systems as well as the dna correction enzymes and if there is lateral gene transfer as seen in other bacteria. Maybe these orgs can live in other environments and can become motile in different environments. Lots to learn here.
One theory, of many, about why evolutionary changes occur in organisms is that COSMIC RAYS, High speed, high energy particles from the depths of outer space, hit a strand of DNA, knocking out a gene or a piece of one, thus initiating and new genetic sequence in the organism. If it isn’t fatal it gets replicated and passed on to the progeny. If it is ‘helpful’ it gets multiplied throughout the species.
These bacteria are two mile down inside solid rock so the would be shielded from practically ALL Cosmic Rays..................