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Context

• Scientists have uncovered a new branch on the tree of life or the graphical tool that shows the evolutionary relationships among plants, animals and all other life forms.
• A rare group of microbial predators dubbed the “lions of the microbial world” make up this new branch on the tree of life, a new research has said.

Details

• The tree is classified into three domains — eukaryotes (organisms whose cells contain a nucleus), bacteria and archaea (single-celled microbes living in extreme conditions).
• These microbial predators form a new branch in the tree of eukaryotes.
• These organisms swallow their prey whole or munch them in chunks. They were discovered 10 years ago in a wide range of marine habitats.
• These include the coral reefs of Curaçao (an island country in the Dutch Caribbean), nearshore sediments of the Black and Red Seas and the water columns of the northeast Pacific and Arctic Oceans.
• They are called a new group because, in the tree of eukaryotes that are not closely related to any other major group, they make their branch.
• In the tree of eukaryotes, these organisms form a new branch or supergroup — Provora. Supergroups include organisms evolving from a single common ancestor.
• At the level of DNA sequences, they are about as diverse as all animals and all fungi put together.
• They feed on other microbial eukaryotes, such as protozoa. Based on their feeding behaviour, this supergroup is classified into nibbleridsand  The former engulfs the prey, while the latter comes equipped with tooth-like protrusions to help them bite and ingest parts of their prey. Nebulids can also swallow their prey, but they prefer nibbling instead.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/rare-microbial-predators-with-voracious-appetite-form-a-new-branch-in-tree-of-life-study-86441

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