Animal + Bacteria Symbiosis

In recent years several studies have presented evidence that the mechanisms in symbiotic and pathogenic relationships are similar or even identical.

Based on genetic sequences of the symbionts the scientists have roughly extrapolated the age of the symbiosis -- the estimated age of 500 million years makes this symbiosis the oldest known animal bacteria association.

Comparing the phylogenies of hosts and symbionts, another subtle but non trivial detail was uncovered -- the worms have been passing on their symbionts to their offspring in every generation, without any symbiont switches for the last 500 million years. How this secured symbiont transmission is accomplished is the focus of the current studies in Jörg Ott's lab. (Via.)