Catching genes from chlamydiae allowed complex life to live without oxygen

An international team of researchers has discovered a new group of Chlamydiae—Anoxychlamydiales—living under the ocean floor without oxygen. These Chlamydiae have genes that allow them to survive without oxygen while making hydrogen gas. The researchers found that our single-cell ancestors 'caught' these hydrogen-producing genes from ancient Chlamydiae up to two-billion years ago—an event that was critical for the evolution of all complex life alive today. The results are published in Science Advances.

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