Largest bacterium

Why in news?

• Scientists have discovered the world’s largest known bacterium, first to be visible with the naked eye in the brackish waters of a red mangrove swamp in Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles.
• Usually bacteria are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope.

More about the News:

• This latest discovery of bacteria is the first that is visible to naked eye and it is in the form of white filaments, almost the size of human eyelashes.
• The giant white bacterium was found lurking on the rotting leaves sunken in the swamp.

About Largest bacterium - Thiomargarita Magnifica:

• It is about 1 centimetre in length - about 50 times bigger than any other known bacteria.
• It is the biggest single-cell bacteria found up till now.
• The filament-like organism is named Thiomargarita Magnifica.

Why is the discovery unusual?

• The discovery is important and unusual as according to models of cell metabolism, bacteria should not simply grow so big.
• Scientists had previously suggested an upper possible size limit about 100 times smaller than the new bacteria.
• The researchers aren't certain why the bacterium is so large, but according to a co-author of the study, it may be an adaptation to help it avoid being eaten by smaller organisms.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Thiomargarita Magnifica, recently seen in news, is a:

(a) Fungus commercially cultivated for food

(b) Largest bacterium ever found

(c) Invasive weed that threatens native plants species

(d) None of the above

Answer