Scientists solve puzzle of how bacteria see
Q. Tiny bacteria are able to see, according to scientists. Which bacteria was studied to arrive at this finding?- Published on 10 Feb 16a. Cyanobacteria
b. Chloroflexi
c. Aquiificae
d. Protebacteria
ANSWER: Cyanobacteria
The question of how tiny bacteria see have puzzled scientists ever since Leeuwenhoek viewed them under his microscope 340 years ago. German and British researchers have found that bacterial cells are like the microscopic eyeball or the smallest and oldest camera eye. Bacteria can therefore see the world in the same way humans do. Scientists studied cyanobacteria found in water bodies. This type of bacteria evolved 2.7 billion years back. Energy is produced by this bacteria through energy from the sun. Cyanobacteria of a particular species Synechocystis, which is found naturally in freshwater lakes and rivers was studied. Current study shows bacteria contain photosensors which enable them to perceive position of light source and go towards it. This is because the cell body acts as a lens. Once light reaches the spherical surface, there is refraction into a point on the cell’s other side. A Synechocystis cell is about half a billion times smaller than the human eye. Angular resolution enables superior light perception in cyanobacteria.
