Bacteria are Genetically Modified by Lightning

[Scott A. Kampas]

Very interesting for a number of implications...

University of Lyon researchers have found that lightning opens up pores in soil bacteria, allowing them to pick up any stray DNA present.

The researchers suspect the phenomenon is widespread, speeding up the rate at which bacteria evolve. Genetic studies show bacteria frequently pick up foreign genes, usually from other bacteria, but natural DNA uptake rates are too sluggish to explain the observed diversity.

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?...p?id=ns99996525

Scott

 

[Caleb Lawrence]

That is fascinating indeed. I wonder if there are any statisctics on where rarer, or unidentified creatures take up habitat where lightning occurs more. Or something along those lines.

 

[Morgan Palmer]

That is fascinating. I wonder if the DNA of people who are struck might be affected in some way as well!

Nukes created Godzilla.

Lightning creates Lightningzilla... or perhaps [insert your fellow chasers name here]


mp