"Breakthrough Discovery: Nitrogen-Fixing Organelle Emerges from Evolutionary Merger"
Scientists have discovered the first nitrogen-fixing organelle within a eukaryotic cell, challenging the belief that only bacteria can perform nitrogen fixation. Named a nitroplast, this organelle is the result of a rare process called primary endosymbiosis, where a prokaryotic cell is engulfed by a eukaryotic cell and evolves into an organelle. The discovery, involving decades of work and a bit of luck, sheds light on the evolution of organelles and has the potential to change perspectives on nitrogen fixation, agriculture, and ocean ecosystems. This research was funded by the Simons Foundation, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Office of Biological and Environmental Research.
