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News Release 06-048

Scientists Discover Interplay Between Genes and Viruses in Tiny Ocean Plankton

Finding leads to new conclusions about marine environment

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Viruses appear to play a role in the genetic diversity of the plankton Prochlorococcus.

Ocean viruses appear to play a role in the genetic diversity of Prochlorococcus, the sea's most abundant plankton species.

Credit: Claire Ting, Department of Biology, Williams College

 

Scientist Erik Zinser collects Prochlorococcus plankton in the Atlantic Ocean.

Scientist Erik Zinser collects Prochlorococcus plankon in the Atlantic Ocean.

Credit: Zackary Johnson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology