Researchers in Canada have found, for the first time ever, a photosynthetic symbionts in a vertebrate. A unicellular green alga,was found living INSIDE the cells of developing Spotted salamander embryos while still in the eggs! How these algae get inside vertebrate cells has not been determined. However, previous research showed that eggs that did not contain algae in the surrounding jelly mass were slower to develop than those which had algae present.
There are ways in which vertebrate cells eliminate foreign material and this discovery could help scientists explore what regulates this process.
Read more at: http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100730/full/news.2010.384.html
January 30, 2012 at 2:03 am
are starting a new publication which deals with wildlife watching in the Greater Yellowstone Region. Published in print and online editions with an accompanying blog, we will post the latest information on Yellowstone wildlife spottings, etiquette, safety, political and environmental issues. We firmly believe that this project will result in very positive advocacy for wildlife in the Western US. We have a very preliminary web site and blog up. http://Www.thespottingscope.co. I hope to get your comments and support.
Currently we are tying to get start up funding together to launch this May. Any help you might be able to provide in getting the word out would be most appreciated. We have set up a project with Kickstater to facilitate this fund raising. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1574373108/the-spotting-scope?ref=live