Article: Third branch of life bares its genes. (Archaea)

For eons, the methane-belching microorganisms lived anonymously on the floor of the Pacific ocean, nestled in the crevices of hydrothermal vents that spew boiling, mineral-laden water into the chilly sea. Then, in 1982, a small submersible named Alvin dived down two miles to their homes and ferried samples of the organism to the surface.

This week, scientists announced that they have finished sequencing all the genes of the deep-sea microbe, a crucial step in comprehending how the unusual microorganisms, known as Methanococcus jannaschii, flourish without using sunlight, oxygen, or any surrounding organic material.

"We're trying to describe the entire life of ...

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