American scientists have managed to revive a group of microbes, extracted from the bottom of the ocean. Age of microorganisms was more than 100 million years, reports the online edition of Science Magazine.
Microbes were discovered in the thickness of oceanic sediments to the East of Australia at a depth of about 5700 meters. Raised the samples contained about 1000 bacteria per cubic centimeter of seabed, usually on a fragment of a breed of similar size can meet at least 100 000 cells. This means that the microbes did not have the right amount of oxygen and nutrients necessary for survival and reproduction.
Organisms were placed in special flasks on 557 days where added nutrient mixture consisting of acetates, and isotopes of nitrogen and carbon. After 65 days, the experts recorded the fact of successful reproduction — the number of germs increased to one million units per cubic centimeter.
Genetic analysis of the samples revealed that the microbes belong to the eight known bacterial groups, some of which are found in salt water and play an important role in the destruction of organic substances. “Survival in conditions of energy limitation is a widespread feature,” said microbiologist Kenneth Nielson (Kenneth Nealson).
Scientists believe that organisms have an age of more than 100 million years. Before that the most ancient bacteria, which were able to return to life in the laboratory had age about 15 million years. Experts have concluded that if the microbes survived in those places, which biologists believed uninhabited, it means that they can remain viable in harsh conditions on other planets and satellites of the Solar system.
