Role of the mysterious microbe in ocean ecology
An unusual microorganism discovered in the open ocean forces scientists to rethink their understanding of how carbon and nitrogen cycle through ocean ecosystems…
An unusual microorganism discovered in the open ocean may force scientists to rethink their understanding of how carbon and nitrogen cycle through ocean ecosystems. A paper describing the new findings appears in the November 14 issue of the journal Science.
A research team led by Jonathan Zehr, a marine scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, characterised the new microbe by analysing its genetic material, even though researchers have not been able to grow it in the laboratory.
Zehr said that the newly described organism seems to be an atypical member of the cyanobacteria, a group of photosynthetic bacteria formerly known as blue-green algae.
"This research has revealed a big surprise about the microbiology of the oceans, and the complex integration of the ocean's nitrogen and carbon cycles," said Philip Taylor, section head in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Ocean Sciences, which funded the work.
"The fact that nitrogen fixation in these abundant unicells is decoupled from photosynthesis is intriguing," said Taylor. "This unique adaptation brings up questions about the role of these abundant microbes in the ocean."
Unlike all other known free-living cyanobacteria, this one lacks some of the genes needed to carry out photosynthesis, the process by which plants use light energy to make sugars out of carbon dioxide and water.
The mysterious microbe can do something very important, though: It provides natural fertilizer to the oceans by "fixing" nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form useable by other organisms.
"For it to have such an unusual metabolism is very exciting," Zehr said. "We're trying to understand how something like this can live and grow with so many missing parts."
Earlier research by Zehr's group had revealed surprisingly large numbers of novel nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, including the one that is the focus of this study, in the open ocean.
Although 80 percent of Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen, most organisms cannot use it unless it is "fixed" to other elements to make molecules like ammonia and nitrate. Because nitrogen is essential for all forms of life, nitrogen fixation is a major factor controlling overall biological productivity in the oceans.
The new microbe is one of the most abundant nitrogen fixers in many parts of the ocean, Zehr said.
New DNA sequencing technology provided by 454 Life Sciences enabled rapid sequencing of the organism's genome. "I had begun to suspect that there was something missing in this organism's genome, and the genome sequencing confirmed that," said Zehr. The results showed that it is missing the entire set of genes needed for photosystem II and carbon fixation, essential parts of the molecular machinery that carries out photosynthesis in plants and cyanobacteria.
"That has multiple implications," Zehr said. "It must have a 'lifestyle' that's very different from other cyanobacteria. Ecologically, it's important to understand its role in the ecosystem and how it affects the balance of carbon and nitrogen in the ocean."
During photosynthesis, photosystem II generates oxygen by splitting water molecules. Because oxygen inhibits nitrogen fixation, most nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria only fix nitrogen at night, or do it in specialised cells. The lack of photosystem II enables the new microbe to fix nitrogen during the day, Zehr said.
But without photosynthesis, it can't take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into sugars. So it's not clear how the new microbe feeds itself. Either it has some way of feeding on organic matter in its environment, or it lives in close association with other organisms that provide it with food, Zehr said.
"It would make a perfect symbiont because it could feed nitrogen to its host and live on the carbon provided by the host," he said. Photosystem II is large complex of multiple proteins and chlorophyll molecules, but the team was unable to find any of the genes for the photosystem II core proteins. The genes for photosystem I appeared in the sequencing data, as did genes for both photosystems from the small numbers of contaminating cyanobacteria in the sample.
Zehr said that he plans to continue research on the new microbe and fill some gaps in the present knowledge. Efforts are currently underway to map the microbe's presence in the oceans and determine its global abundance. Zehr is also interested in how its metabolism differs from other known cyanobacteria. If it can be cultured, there may be ways to exploit this organism's unusual.
source:thenews.com
Role of the mysterious microbe in ocean ecology
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World Twenty20 win is beginning of new era: Inti
|Pakistan can translate their title-winning triumph in the World Twenty20 into a forceful showing during the tough tour of Sri Lanka later this summer, their coach Intikhab Alam said on Wednesday.Intikhab told ‘The News’ in an interview that the morale is high in Pakistan camp following a memorable victory in the World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Sunday and his boys are now ready to give a similar performance in the up coming Test series.“Our morale and confidence has received a great boost,” said Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain. “And it is certainly going to help the boys in Sri Lanka,” he added.Pakistan are scheduled to leave for Colombo on June 27 to play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 game against Sri Lanka during a six-wee-long tour that will end on August 12.It is Pakistan’s first full tour since the away assignment in India in 2007 and will be a litmus test for them as Sri Lanka are regarded as a very dangerous side especially in their own backyard.But Intikhab is confident that his charges will do well in Sri lanka.“It’s very important that we carry on winning,” he said. “The World Cup should be a beginning of a bright era in our cricket and we should translate that success into more such results in the future.”However, Intikhab made it clear that things will not be easy for Pakistan in Sri Lanka.“Sri Lanka is always a tough assignment,” he said. “The playing conditions and the weather with all the heat and humidity can make things really difficult.”When Pakistan toured Sri Lanka the last time in 2006, they won the Test series.This time, however, Pakistan will have to really give their best to repeat that performance against Sri Lanka that will be looking to avenge their World Twenty20 final defeat on home soil.Sri Lanka have been extremely successful in their own backyard in recent seasons with a potent bowling attack bolstered by their spin twins — Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.And with skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who are counted among the world’s most prolific batters, their batting line-up looks very dependable.Intikhab, however, said that his team will be in with a good chance in the series.He termed the return of premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf as a huge boost and said that his ‘balanced’ team is capable of delivering the goods in Sri Lanka.“Yousuf’s return is certainly good news for us,” he said. “He will strengthen our batting line-up.”Yousuf was banned last year after he defected to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) but was recalled in the national team earlier this weak after he broke ties with the rebel Twenty20 league.Intikhab said that batters like skipper Younis Khan and Yousuf, Pakistan can look forward to a good showing in Sri Lanka.He pointed out that Pakistan have always played well Murali and Mendis and can do that again this summer.Pakistan broke the M&M code at home earlier this year with Younis scoring a match-saving triple hundred in the opening Test in Karachi.Intikhab said that with the in-form pacer Umar in the side, Pakistan will go into the series with a reliable bowling attack.His team will not get much time to switch from Twenty20 to Test mode, but Intikhab is confident that it will do that without mush fuss.“It’s very important for us to get into the Test mode,” he said. “Test cricket is a completely different ball game. You have to be more patient, more determined to stay on the wicket. Your shot selection has to be really good.“It is tough to just switch from Twenty20 to Test cricket, but I’m confident that the boys will do that because they are hungry for more success.”
source: thenews.com
Maria Sharapova is upset by Dulko at Wimbledon
|WIMBLEDON, England – Maria Sharapova won seven straight games during one stretch but let a late lead slip away Wednesday and lost to Gisela Dulko, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round at Wimbledon.
Sharapova saved four match points in a wild, 14-point final game. But on the fifth she pushed an easy forehand long, and she was out of the tournament after two rounds for the second year in a row.
The 2004 champion was playing in her fourth event since rejoining the tour last month following shoulder surgery in October. She's ranked 60th but was seeded 24th because of past success at the All England Club.
"This is not an overnight process," Sharapova said. "It's going to take time, as much time as I need on the court, to get everything together. ... Just being here is a wonderful accomplishment."
Dulko, ranked 45th, matched her best showing at Wimbledon by reaching the third round. She had won a total of only three games in two previous matches against Sharapova, but the Argentine repeatedly won points by hitting drop shots, while Sharapova struggled with her serve and forehand.
"I had so many easy balls, and I just made unforced errors from those," Sharapova said. "When I've had those situations before, those balls would be pieces of cake, and today they weren't."
Two-time champion Serena Williams, seeded second, sped into the third round by beating Jarmila Groth 6-2, 6-1. Williams committed only six unforced errors.
Earlier on Court 1, Novak Djokovic eased past Simon Greul of Germany. The fourth-seeded Djokovic won eight straight games after going down 1-0 in the second set to secure a 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
The Serb threw his racket in anger after being broken to start the second set, and also struggled with his serve in the third. He traded breaks twice with Greul before getting a decisive breakthrough to go up 5-4.
Djokovic will next play No. 28-seeded Mardy Fish of the United States, who matched his best showing at Wimbledon by reaching the third round when he beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
On the women's side, No. 16 Zheng Jie, a semifinalist as a wild card last year, lost to Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 7-5. No. 8 Victoria Azarenka lost only six points in her six service games and shut out Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-0, 6-0.
No. 10 Nadia Petrova, No. 14 Dominika Cibulkova and No. 26 Virginie Razzano won.
Sharapova and Dulko played the day's first match on Centre Court in warm sunshine, and the new roof remained open for a third consecutive day. Dulko played almost flawless tennis at the start, committing only four unforced errors in the first 11 games.
But leading 3-love in the second set, she began spraying her shots, and Sharapova took advantage to win seven consecutive games.
"It took me a while to get going," Sharapova said. "It's a little too late to start picking yourself up when you're down a set and 3-love."
Sharapova wobbled again in the third set, double-faulting to lose serve and fall behind 2-1 in the final set. She double-faulted twice in a row and lost serve at love to fall behind to stay, 4-3.
With Dulko serving in the final game, Sharapova lost two challenges as she fell behind 40-15. Always at her best under pressure, Sharapova hit a booming return and a feathery drop shot to overcome the first two match points, and her return winner erased another.
But with a point for 5-all, Sharapova pushed a backhand into the net, and she made errors on the final two points as well.
Sharapova fell to 6-1 this year in three-set matches. She finished with nine double-faults and had at least one in every service game in the final set.
"Losses are tough, more here than at any other tournament," the three-time Grand Slam champion said. "But, you know, it puts some perspective into your life. It's all right. I have many more years ahead of me."
source:AP
Frank scoffs at worries about new consumer agency
|WASHINGTON – House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank scoffed Wednesday at assertions that a new consumer protection agency would morph into "some out of control entity."
"There is no pattern of overregulation I can see in the consumer area, and I don't see one here," Frank, D-Mass., said at a hearing on the Obama administration's proposals to overhaul financial industry regulation in the wake of high-risk practices that led to the deep recession now under way.
The consumer agency is envisioned as a central component of President Barack Obama's broader plan to usher in a new era of regulations on banks and other financial institutions.
Frank's panel is expected to begin in July to consider legislation that would enact the reforms. While the Democratic majority on the committee will likely endorse the creation of the consumer agency, other pieces of the bill could take longer as some lawmakers question whether Obama's plan gives too much power to the Federal Reserve.
Frank and Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said they've promised Obama a bill on his desk by the end of the year.
While Democrats seem to be united on creating a consumer-protection agency, Republicans and industry groups are railing against it. They say there already are enough regulators policing the market and that holding those regulators more accountable would have prevented the current crisis.
Edward Yingling, president and chief executive officer of the American Bankers Association, said in prepared testimony that filling in regulatory gaps and extending supervision to nonbank financial firms "is likely to be quicker and more successful than a separate consumer regulator."
House Republicans were even sharper in their critique. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said the government had no business interfering in the types of financial products Americans want to buy.
"Unelected bureaucrats will now decide what mortgages we can have. They can decide what bank accounts we can open. They may even decide whether or not we can be trusted with a credit card," said Hensarling, R-Texas.
Frank said such arguments were unfounded.
"The fear that this will be some out of control entity ravaging the financial sector is unsupported by anything in American history," he said.
Elizabeth Warren, who chairs a congressionally appointed panel tasked with reviewing the financial system, initially proposed creating a consumer-protection agency. She said credit cards and mortgages come with such dense fine print that it is nearly impossible for responsible borrowers to understand.
"The consumer market is broken," she told the House panel.
Dodd, D-Conn., also has spoken out in defense of creating a new regulatory agency, suggesting that its establishment is all but guaranteed.
Less clear is the administration's proposal to task the Federal Reserve with regulating any institution deemed so big or influential in the market that its failure could seriously damage the economy.
Under Obama's plan, a council of federal regulators, including the Fed, would help monitor the market for risk. But the Fed would ultimately be held accountable for ensuring that companies don't make overly risky bets.
Last week, several senators suggested tasking the council of regulators with the job instead and criticized the Fed for its role in the recent crisis.
source: AP
U.S. drones prowl over Pakistan's South Waziristan
|U.S. drones prowled the sky over Pakistan's South Waziristan on Wednesday, a day after one of the aircraft attacked a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, killing about 70 militants.
The U.S. attack came as the Pakistani army is preparing an all-out assault on al Qaeda ally Mehsud, who has been accused of orchestrating a campaign of bombings in Pakistan, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The push into South Waziristan on the Afghan border looms as the army is finishing off an offensive in the Swat valley, northwest of Islamabad, launched after Taliban gains raised fears for nuclear-armed Pakistan's future.
Pakistan is a vital ally for the United States as it strives to defeat al Qaeda and stabilize Afghanistan, where thousands of extra U.S. soldiers are arriving.
U.S. President Barack Obama's national security adviser, Jim Jones, arrived in Pakistan on a trip that includes stops in Afghanistan and India aimed at following up on the implementation of a new U.S. strategy for the region.
He will meet civilian and military leaders, a spokesman said.
The pilotless U.S. drone strike late on Tuesday, on a funeral for one of six militants killed in a similar strike earlier in the day, suggests closer coordination between the United States and Pakistan.
But Pakistan, which officially objects to such strikes, is unlikely to confirm that in a country where many people are suspicious of the alliance with the United States in its global campaign against militancy.
Intelligence officials said late on Tuesday 45 people had been killed in the drone attack as mourners were leaving the funeral. On Wednesday, they said about 70 people had been killed. A Taliban official said Mehsud had been in the area but was not hurt. Security officials and villagers said the Taliban had sealed off the site.
"Bodies are still lying there and the Taliban are not allowing anybody close while their men are coming and going in vehicles," resident Ghulam Rasool told Reuters by telephone.
Taliban spokesman Wali-ur-Rehman said 65 people had been killed and many would be buried in mass graves.
"Most of the bodies are charred beyond recognition so it's been decided they'll be buried in three graves," he said.
On Wednesday, the militants fired at U.S. drones flying over the remote, mountainous region and at least two turned back, said another resident.
TALIBAN CLAIM KILLING RIVAL
The military has been launching air strikes on Mehsud's bases for more than a week while soldiers have been securing main roads into the region, sealing off his stronghold.
A military convoy, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, headed toward the area on Wednesday, a Reuters reporter in the region said.
Tuesday's drone attacks happened hours after a gunman working as a guard killed a rival of Mehsud who had spoken out strongly against the Taliban chief.
Rehman said the Taliban had killed the rival militant leader, Qari Zainuddin, and warned others not to support the government.
"Whoever extends a hand of support to the government will be targeted the same way," he said.
The killing of Zainuddin, in the North West Frontier town of Dera Ismail Khan, showed Mehsud's reach and would be a setback for government efforts to win over ethnic Pashtun tribal factions for the campaign against Mehsud, analysts said.
Nearly 1,600 militants and more than 100 soldiers have been killed in the Swat offensive, according to the military. There has been no independent confirmation of those casualty figures.
The imminent army operation in South Waziristan has forced about 45,000 people to flee the region and join about two million people uprooted by fighting in Swat and other areas.
The offensive against the Taliban has widespread support among politicians and the public but a fragile civilian government could see that backing evaporate if the displaced are seen to be suffering unduly.
source: reuters
Pakistanis mourn Bhutto a year after killing
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The anniversary of the killing that sparked days of violence by her supporters, comes as Pakistan faces yet another crisis.
Tension has been rising with India over last month's militant attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai, stoking fears of conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Bhutto, 54, was killed in a gun and bomb attack in the city of Rawalpindi as she emerged from an election rally just over two months after she had returned from years of self-exile.
In February, the two-time prime minister's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) rode a wave of sympathy to win an election and it now heads a coalition government. Her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, has become president.
Zardari, in a statement marking the anniversary, said the attack on his wife was an attack on the viability of the state and aimed at undermining efforts to build democratic structures and to fighting militancy.
"The tyrants and the killers have killed her but they shall never be able to kill her ideas that drove and inspired a generation to lofty aims," Zardari said.
Security was tight at the Bhutto family's graveyard in the village of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, in Sindh province. She was buried next to her father, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged in 1979 after being deposed in a military coup.
Senior police official Tanvir Odho said 6,000 policemen and hundreds of paramilitary soldiers were
Bomb-sniffing dogs swept the site and surveillance cameras and walk-through metal detectors been set up. Odho estimated that 200,000 people had gathered.
Jolie and Pitt donate to Pakistan
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More than two million people have been uprooted since the army began fighting Taliban militants in Pakistan's Swat region earlier this year, the UN says.
Ms Jolie has visited Pakistan three times since becoming a goodwill ambassador for the agency in 2001.
The two actors made the donation through their charitable foundation.
Ms Jolie and Mr Pitt - who are partners - have set up the foundation to help counter humanitarian crises.
In 2005, the two visited survivors of an earthquake which devastated parts of northern Pakistan.
They travelled aboard a helicopter carrying food, blankets and plastic sheets.
The quake left more than 73,000 people dead and millions homeless.