Biggest bacterium ever discovered amazes scientists with its complexity

Scientists discovered a massive bacterium that can be seen without a microscope in the mangroves of Grande-Terre in the Caribbean.

The single-celled organisms can grow up to 0.78 inches (2 centimeters) long and look like a thin string, according to a report. The bacterium has all its genetic material in a membranous pouch, unlike mostbacteria that have their genetic material in their cells. This feature distinguishes the newfound microbe from other prokaryotes, and sets it apart from otherbacteria. The group includes organisms that are related to the Archaea.

Animals, plants and fungi have more complex cells that contain a nucleus and other organelles. The micobe has a second pouch full of water which takes up more than 70% of the cell's total volume, and it carries its DNA in a pouch.

10 things we learned about microbes in 2021.

Very excited to share our preprint on "A centimeter-long bacterium with DNA compartmentalized in membrane-bound organelles" #microbiology #chemosynthesis #CellBiology #bacteria https://t.co/OPYIrkqz8S pic.twitter.com/sA1RDn4zpxFebruary 18, 2022

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The water-filled pouch may help life-sustaining molecules diffuse into the cell more easily, while toxins pass easily out, Science reported.

The researchers concluded that the new bacterium might belong to the same group because it carries the same kind of water-filled pouch. They wanted the humongous microbe to be named T. magnifica.

The humongous bacterium could be a missing link in the evolution of complex cells.

Chris Greening is a microbiologist at Monash.

The expectation-defying microbe is in Science.

It was originally published on Live Science.