Scientists Discover Animal-like Urea Cycle in Tiny Diatoms in the Ocean

Scientists Discover Animal-like Urea Cycle in Tiny Diatoms in the Ocean 

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:30:00 -0500

Scientists have discovered that marine diatoms, tiny phytoplankton abundant in the sea, have an animal-like urea cycle, and that this cycle enables the diatoms to efficiently use carbon and nitrogen from their environment.

The researchers, from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) and other institutions, published their findings in this week's issue of the journal Nature.

The team, led by lead author Andrew Allen from JCVI and co-author Chris Bowler, Institute of ... 

More at:

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=119439&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click

Provided by National Science Foundation