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Article: Scientists find new life, but not as we know it
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- February 12, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1996 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Scientists may be on the verge of discovering a wholly new type
of life- form, entirely distinct from the three main groups that
are believed to populate the Earth at present.
The discovery of new microbes is a lucrative business. New
genes, enzymes, antibiotics and other molecules are in constant
demand by pharmaceutical companies. A microbe producing a useful
molecule could be worth billions of pounds to a drug company.
All known life on the planet can be put into one of three groups
- known as the Eubacteria Archaebacteria and the Eukaryotes. The
first two are composed of microbes which are too small to be seen
but form a vital environmental role.
.Microbes perform a key role in recycling ...