Prehistoric
bacteria revived from buried salt
By drilling into pockets of ancient
seawater trapped in salt crystals, scientists found—and then revived—bacteria
that may be 250 million years old.
References:
Grant, W.D., R.T. Gemmell, and T.J. McGenity. 1998. Halobacteria:
The evidence for longevity. Estremophiles 2:279.
Rosenzweig, W.D. . . . and R.H. Vreeland. 1999. Development of a
protocol for the recovery of biological materials from ancient salt
formations. Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. June.
Chicago.
Vreeland, R.H. . . . W.D. Rosenzweig, et al. 1999. Characterization
of a 250 million year old halotolerant strain of Bacillus pantothenticus
and an extreme halophile utilizing two and three carbon compounds
as carbon sources. Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
June. Chicago.
Further Readings:
Monastersky, R. 1995. Ancient bacteria brought back to life. Science
News 147(May 20):308.
Sources:
Raul J. Cano
California Polytechnic State University
Biological Sciences Department
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
William D. Grant
University of Leicester
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
P.O. Box 138
Leicester LE1 9HN
United Kingdom
Melanie R. Mormile
Battelle
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
P.O. Box 999, Mailstop code P7-50
Richland, WA 99352
William D. Rosenweig
West Chester University College
Avenue & High Street
West Chester, PA 19383
Russell H. Vreeland
West Chester University College
Avenue & High Street
West Chester, PA 19383
From Science
News, Vol. 155, No. 24, June 12, 1999, p. 373.
Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
