Asgard archaea: the first eukaryotic cells?

该项目旨在揭示独特的微生物（阿斯加德古菌）在真核生物起源中的作用。这些古生菌可能代表了真核生物进化的“缺失环节”，在西澳大利亚鲨鱼湾的叠层石中大量存在。采用尖端分子生物学和高分辨率显微镜的创新和跨学科方法，该项目希望对进化和细胞生物学的基本方面产生见解。预期的结果包括发现独特的生命分支和提出真核生物出现的新模型。这项研究应考虑到各种环境和社会收益，包括改善与土著社区的关系。

This project aims to uncover the role of unique microorganisms (Asgard archaea) in the origin of eukaryotes. These archaea may represent a ‘missing-link’ in eukaryotic evolution and are in abundance in the stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Employing an innovative and interdisciplinary approach of cutting-edge molecular biology and high-resolution microscopy, this project expects to generate insights into fundamental aspects of evolution and cell biology. Expected outcomes include the discovery of unique branches of life and the proposal of new models for the emergence of eukaryotes. This research should allow for benefits across a spectrum of environmental and social gains, including improved ties with Indigenous communities.