XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
  Virology
  Bacteriology
   Salmonella
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
 
 India
Search

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2006 - 12:32:53 PM

Bacteriology Channel
subscribe to Bacteriology newsletter

Latest Research : Microbiology : Bacteriology

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Found - bacteria with strange magnetic personality
Feb 24, 2006 - 2:26:00 AM, Reviewed by: Dr. Priya Saxena

Magnetotactic bacteria are found throughout the world in chemically stratified marine and freshwater environments, said lead author Sheri Simmons, a graduate student of the MIT.

 
Researchers have reported the discovery of a bacterium with strange magnetic properties - it tends to swim towards south magnetic pole while being in the northern hemisphere.

While 'Magnetotactic bacteria' are known to swim toward geomagnetic north in the northern hemisphere and geomagnetic south in the southern hemisphere, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Iowa State University have found a bacterium in New England that does just the opposite: a northern hemisphere creature that swims south.

Because this behaviour doesn't make sense in the natural environment of the bacteria, where swimming south would take them away from areas with their preferred oxygen level, the researchers believe there must be other explanations for why some magnetotactic bacteria swim in particular directions, notes an MIT release.

The team dubbed the bacterium the barbell for its appearance. In a study reported in a recent issue of Science, they describe how they used genetic sequencing and other laboratory techniques to identify the barbell, which was found coexisting with other previously described magnetotactic bacteria in Salt Pond on Cape Cod.

Magnetotactic bacteria are found throughout the world in chemically stratified marine and freshwater environments, said lead author Sheri Simmons, a graduate student of the MIT.

Simmons and colleagues studied the bacterium under laboratory conditions and say the behaviour in natural environment could be different from its laboratory behaviour. Their results, however, suggest new models are needed to explain how these magnetotactic bacteria behave in the environment.
 

- Indo-Asian News Service
 

 
Subscribe to Bacteriology Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 



Related Bacteriology News

Gut Bacteria Cospeciating with Plataspid stinkbug
An infectious agent of deception, exposed through proteomics
Gram positive bacterial membrane mystery solved
Salmonella bacteria use RNA to assess and adjust magnesium levels
How deadly toxin botulinum neurotoxin A hijacks cells
String Test: Effective and Inexpensive Method for Detecting Helicobacter pylori
Scientists develop biosensor to detect E. Coli bacteria
Found - bacteria with strange magnetic personality
Student discovers protein in yoghurt that fights E. coli
Slugs May Spread E. coli to Salad Vegetables


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us