Microbiology researchers publish discovery on Earth's oldest life forms

This is a big discovery:

University of Georgia researchers discovered important genetic clues about the history of microorganisms called archaea and the origins of life itself in the first ever study of its kind. Results of their study shed light on one of Earth's oldest life forms.

"Archaea are an ancient form of microorganisms, so everything we can learn about them could help us to answer questions about the origin of life," said William Whitman, a microbiology professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and co-author on the paper.

Felipe Sarmiento, lead author and doctoral student in the microbiology department, surveyed 1,779 genes found in the genome of Methanococcus maripaludis, aquatic archaea commonly found in sea marshes, to determine if they were essential or not and learn more about their functions. He found that roughly 30 percent, or 526 genes, were essential. 

So much exciting research has been published recently from colleagues across the entire Franklin College that we should not take for granted the magnitude of this work by Sarmiento and Whitman. There is a reason scientists seldom use the word 'discovery,' and so when they do, we should pay attention. This quote from Whitman is especially significant:

"Learning that it can change in the archaea suggest that ability to make DNA formed late in the evolution of life. Possibly, there may be unrecognized differences in DNA biosynthesis the eukaryotes or bacteria as well."

And as the release by UGA science writer April Sorrow points out, the study many other important findings. Great job, everyone. The pace of scientific progress continues.