Scientists have discovered flagella in an unexpected place: hot spring-dwelling bacteria from the phylum Chloroflexota. Research shows that flagella were lost in other forms of Chloroflexota that adapted to marine environments hundreds of millions of years ago.
Terrestrial Chloroflexota have certain traits that most marine Chloroflexota lost when they returned to an ocean home. A deeper understanding of how these bacteria evolved could help inform engineering microorganisms for biofuel production and other sustainable applications. Learn more on the JGI’s website.
