Magnetic Bacteria's Collective Survival: Unraveling the Mystery of Multicellularity
2025-04-18
A study published in PLOS Biology reveals the surprising secrets of multicellular magnetotactic bacteria (MMB). Unlike other bacteria, MMB must survive as multicellular consortia; single cells cannot survive independently. This research found that cells within an MMB consortium are not genetically identical and exhibit metabolic differentiation, similar to cell differentiation in multicellular organisms. This provides valuable clues to understanding the early origins of multicellularity on Earth. MMB are the only known example of bacteria exhibiting obligate multicellularity, and their unique survival strategy offers a new perspective on understanding a crucial transition in the history of life's evolution.
(phys.org)