Scientists have discovered the cellular entity of a new organism, which has both living and non-living states. A team of scientists led by Rio Harader of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, discovered this strange organism while analyzing the bacterial genome of the marine plankton Citharystes regius. A research paper on the mysterious organism has been published in the journal BioArchive.
The new organism has been named Sukunaarchaeum mirabile. The organism belonging to the archaea domain shares some functions from its host. This organism can produce its own ribosomes and RNA. The genome of the organism is surprisingly small, which is about half of the smallest archaeal genome.
According to scientists, the life and function of viruses usually depend on the host. On the other hand, the entity of the new organism is quite complex. Virus-like entities cannot be compared with ordinary life. Sukunaarchaeum mirabilis is named after a Japanese deity known for his small size.
The organism contains the genes needed to make its own ribosomes and messenger RNA. Scientists believe the discovery of Sukunaarchaeum pushes the boundaries of cellular life. They also believe that the newly discovered organism crosses the line between life and non-life, between viruses and cells.
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