Overview

• Scientists have discovered a new type of organelle, called nitroplast, in the marine algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii, capable of nitrogen fixation.
• This discovery represents the fourth known instance of primary endosymbiosis, a crucial process in the evolution of complex life forms.
• Nitroplast evolved from a symbiotic relationship with a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, highlighting a rare evolutionary adaptation.
• The finding could have significant implications for agriculture, potentially leading to the development of crops that can fix their own nitrogen.
• Research teams from universities across the globe collaborated on this study, underscoring its importance in the field of marine biology and evolutionary science.