Parakaryon
A unique single-celled organism with mixed prokaryotic and eukaryotic features.
Last updated
A single specimen of the organism Parakaryon myojinensis was discovered and formally described in 2012.[1] This microbe displays characteristics of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, yet it appears to be separate from each category.[1] Within the genus Parakaryon, only this one species exists.[1]
Scientific classification
- Domain''incertae sedis''
- GenusParakaryon
- SpeciesParakaryon myojinensis
Named by Yamaguchi et al. 2012
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Parakaryon (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where the parakaryon has been recorded
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Species
- myojinensis
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
The specific name myojinensis refers to the collection site: Myōjin Knoll, about 1240 meters deep in the Pacific Ocean near Aogashima island.[2] The only sample was collected from the bristle of an unidentified scale worm at hydrothermal vents.[2] Only one instance of this organism has been discovered, preventing further study.[1] The genus name Parakaryon was formed from Greek words meaning "beside" and "nucleus," which highlights how it differs from both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.[2]
According to the original describers, the complete scientific name translates to "next to (eu)karyote from Myojin."[1] Parakaryon myojinensis possesses certain structural traits that are only found in eukaryotes, others only in prokaryotes, and still others that are unlike either group.[3] Whether this organism belongs to the eukaryote or prokaryote category—the two divisions that encompass all other cellular life—remains uncertain.[1] The researchers who discovered it stated that obtaining more specimens would be necessary for cultivation and DNA analysis.[1]
What the research sources say
If Parakaryon myojinensis is a highly derived eukaryote, it is radically different in basic plan from anything seen before.[4] The book hypothesizes that the organism may be undergoing endosymbiosis, the step necessary for evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes.[4] If it is repeating eukaryotic evolution, its extremely low population density (one specimen in 15 years) is predictable.[4] In the book "Evolution of complex life on Earth, take 2," published in 2015, the term 'parakaryote' is used to indicate that the organism has an intermediate morphology.[4]
References
- Wikipedia, "Parakaryon" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Prokaryote or eukaryote? A unique microorganism from the deep sea.", J Electron Microsc (Tokyo), 2012, p. 423–431 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Parakaryon" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Fumitoshi, "Fumitoshi MURAKAMI, The Forming Mechanism of the Submarine Caldera on Myojin Knoll in the Northern Part of the Izu-Ogasawara (Bonin) Arc", Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 1997, p. 70–86 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Parakaryon" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Prokaryote or eukaryote? A unique microorganism from the deep sea.", J Electron Microsc (Tokyo), 2012, p. 423–431; Evolution of complex life on Earth, take 2 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Evolution of complex life on Earth, take 2. facts only, no text reused. abc.net.au
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Parakaryon (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Higher-Level Taxonomy & Evolution
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Parakaryon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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