Genome of Marine Organisms Reveals Hidden Secrets

Kendall Roberson

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/05/10/genome_of_marine_organism_reveals_hidden_secrets.html

A genome of marine organisms has been found to produce substances that can be possibly be useful against human diseases. Cyanobacteria, small photosynthetic microorganisms, are potentially the oldest forms of life on Earth. The Cyanobacteria blooms can cause a threat to humans and animals, but the L. majuscula cyanobacteria has been used to create hundreds of natural medicines. Little is known about the genetics behind the bacteria. The Cyanobacteria play a major role in the global carbon cycle. Cyanobacteria are going to be used to help create medicines to benefit humans on Earth.

I believe the discovery of this genome is one that will benefit us more than the genome. If the Cyanbacteria continues to create natural medicines, we won't have to rely as much on us; we will rely more on nature. Since the Cyanobacteria are potentially the oldest forms of life on Earth, it makes me wonder; why haven't we discovered this great genome earlier in life to help create natural medicines? I believe scientists should have investigated and observed this marine genome a long time ago so we could have this knowledge earlier. The Cyanobacteria will hopefully continue to create natural medicines that will benefit us humans more in the future than in the present.