Phylogenetic perspective on microbial life in hydrothermal ecosystems, past and present.

摘要: Understanding hydrothermal ecosystems, both past and present, requires basic information on the types of organisms present. Traditional methods, which require cultivation microorganisms, fail to detect many taxa. We have used phylogenetic analyses small subunit rRNA sequences obtained from microorganisms a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park explore archael (archaebacterial) diversity Analysis these reveals several novel groups archaea, greatly expanding our conception high temperature demonstrating that systems harbour rich variety life. Many diverged line descent early during evolution, an understanding their common properties may assist inference nature last ancestor all The data also show specific relationship between low-temperature marine archaea some consistent with thermophilic origin Future use rRNA-sequence-based techniques exploration should facilitate study modern thermophiles give us insight into activities extinct communities as well.