Tardigrade's genome sequenced - 17.5% foreign DNA - large horizontal gene transfer?

[gary]

Tardigrades (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade), also known as "water bears", are strange water-dwelling, eight-legged, segmented micro-animals.

Extremophiles, they have been found in a range of locations including Antarctica, Tasmania, the deep sea and tropical rainforests.

On the 18th November 2015, The University of North Carolina reports -



Press release here -
http://uncnews.unc.edu/2015/11/23/a-huge-chunk-of-a-tardigrades-genome-comes-from-foreign-dna/



Article in Science Alert here -
http://www.sciencealert.com/the-tardigrade-genome-has-been-sequenced-and-it-has-the-most-foreign-dna-of-any-animal



Washington Post article -
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/11/25/the-invincible-tardigrade-already-a-weird-animal-is-full-of-dna-stolen-from-bacteria/

[bugeater]

Interesting.

Here's a comic about horizontal gene transfer:
http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3368

Slightly related is that it's estimated that up to 8% of the human genome is comprised of retrovirus derived sequence (the class of virus that includes HIV).

[xelasnave]

Wow

[The Mekon]

Interesting report Gary. Some years ago I purchased a nice Olympus CH2 microscope. I was determined to see one of these little critters. It took quite a bit of finding, but after scouring moss mulches from bushland for quite some time, I eventually found some in my own gutter mulch. The mulch was dried as was the Tardigrade, but after wetting I was able to view its awakening over several hours under the microscope. They sure are tough creatures!

[Shiraz]

Thanks for the info Gary - very interesting.

I have looked for these little guys in local moss, but not found any yet. Will have to keep looking.

[deanm]

Things are never straightforward...

"When labs clash over tardigrade DNA, that’s just science working as it should (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/12/07/when-labs-clash-over-tardigrade-dna-thats-just-science-working-as-it-should/)"

Dean