Borg (microbiology)
A borg is a "giant extrachromosomal element...with the potential to augment methane oxidation",[1] described by and Jill Banfield to be essentially a long sequence of DNA found inside of the archaea , separately from their main chromosome, in oxygen-starved environments such as deep mud.[2][3]
As of August 2021 they could turn out to be an unknown form of giant viruses or "giant linear plasmids" rather than something more unknown.[4][1] They co-occur with a species of archaeon which likely hosts them and shares many of their genes. The archaeon's main chromosome is only three times larger and their capacity for anaerobic oxidation of methane as well as other biological functions – such as production of proteins – may be augmened by the borgs.[5][6][1]
References[]
- ^ a b c Al-Shayeb, Basem; Schoelmerich, Marie C.; West-Roberts, Jacob; Valentin-Alvarado, Luis E.; Sachdeva, Rohan; Mullen, Susan; Crits-Christoph, Alexander; Wilkins, Michael J.; Williams, Kenneth H.; Doudna, Jennifer A.; Banfield, Jillian F. (10 July 2021). "Borgs are giant extrachromosomal elements with the potential to augment methane oxidation". bioRxiv: 2021.07.10.451761. doi:10.1101/2021.07.10.451761. S2CID 235812990. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Mysterious DNA sequences, known as ‘Borgs,’ recovered from California mud", Science, 15 July 2021
- ^ Rayne, Elizabeth (2021-08-03). "Resistance is futile, because Star Trek's Borg are real and can assimilate DNA from microbes". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ^ Whitten, Jordana Cepelewicz +1 authorsAllison (21 July 2021). "Plasmid, Virus or Other? DNA 'Borgs' Blur Boundaries". Quanta Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Dance, Amber (16 July 2021). "Massive DNA 'Borg' structures perplex scientists". Nature. p. 636. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-01947-3. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Andrew, Shakespeare, William Gurr (30 July 2021). "Previously undiscovered DNA 'borgs' found on California wetlands". The Independent. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- Microbiology
- DNA