Discovery of Biological Clocks in Cyanobacteria Boosts Survival Rates

Sep 6, 2024, 01:30 PM

Recent research has discovered that cyanobacteria, a type of bacteria, can anticipate seasonal changes and adapt their cellular structures accordingly. These bacteria, when exposed to shorter days in laboratory conditions, rewire their membrane lipids to prepare for cold weather. This adaptation significantly increases their survival rate, with cells exposed to shorter days showing two to three times higher survival when plunged into cold water compared to those exposed to longer days. The discovery of biological clocks in these bacteria could have significant implications for biotechnology and the development of new antibiotics.