Student Article
Mysterious Borg DNA Can Copy Genes From Other Cells!
Microbe (noun): A tiny living thing that is so small you need a microscope to see it. Includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic organisms.
Turbocharge (verb): To make something go faster or work better by giving it extra power.
Emissions (noun): Gases released into the air, often from cars or factories.
CRISPR (noun): A powerful tool used by scientists to edit DNA by cutting and changing specific parts.
Imagine finding a DNA tool that could help reduce pollution and improve gene editing. That’s what scientists discovered with the "Borg" — a new kind of DNA that might work alongside CRISPR to change the future.
Meet the Borg: a DNA discovery from mud
Scientists in California recently found mysterious DNA strands in soil samples from a wetland pool. They named them "Borgs" after the alien race in Star Trek known for absorbing the traits of others. Borgs are unique because they can absorb and store genes from their host cells. These hosts are archaea — ancient, single-celled organisms believed to be some of Earth’s earliest life forms.
Tiny helpers fighting climate change
One exciting function of Borgs is their role in methane-eating microbes. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Some microbes naturally eat methane, but the ones with Borgs have a turbocharged metabolism, consuming methane even faster. This could help reduce harmful emissions.
Like CRISPR, but maybe better!
Scientists think Borgs might also lead to new gene-editing tools. CRISPR, a tool that acts like molecular scissors, can cut and change specific parts of DNA. It is already used to treat diseases and improve crops. Borgs contain many unusual genes, some of which might have gene-editing potential, just like CRISPR.
So, what's next?
Next, scientists plan to study how Borgs behave. Do they stay in cells forever, like plasmids, or do they come and go like viruses? They also hope to explore how Borgs could be used to reduce methane emissions in rice fields and wetlands. The discovery of Borgs reveals how much we still have to learn about the hidden power of microscopic life.
© Jason Goodyer / Our Media
Microbe (noun): A tiny living thing that is so small you need a microscope to see it. Includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic organisms.
Turbocharge (verb): To make something go faster or work better by giving it extra power.
Emissions (noun): Gases released into the air, often from cars or factories.
CRISPR (noun): A powerful tool used by scientists to edit DNA by cutting and changing specific parts.