A Rogue New Life Form

Scientists have discovered Sukunaarchaeum mirabile, a microbe with one of the smallest genomes ever found at 238,000 base pairs. This unusual archaea lacks genes for metabolism, making it entirely dependent on its host, a marine dinoflagellate. Unlike viruses, Sukunaarchaeum has its own ribosomes and can replicate independently, placing it in a unique category. Researchers found evidence of similar microbes globally, suggesting a new branch on the archaeal tree of life and highlighting the vast unknown in microbial "dark matter."