Russian Researchers Discover New Bacteria Species in Antarctica

Russian researchers have now discovered a new type of bacteria from water samples obtained at an ancient lake near the South Pole, reports RIA Novosti. Researchers say that the microbes can't be found anywhere else in the world.

"After excluding all known contaminants...we discovered bacterial DNA that does not match any known species listed in global databanks. We call it unidentified and 'unclassified' life," Sergei Bulat, a researcher at the Laboratory of Eukaryote Genetics at the St. Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, told RIA Novosti. The new species of bacteria were found in water samples from Lake Vostok.

The study team obtained seven samples of the new bacteria that were found sticking to a drilling device used in 2012 to reach the lake covered by 3.5 kilometer or 2.17 miles of ice. Researchers then matched the DNA of the new bacteria with that of known bacteria. They report that the DNA match never exceeded more than 86 percent. According to Bulat, a match under 90 percent is enough evidence that a given bacteria species is new and unidentified.

Russia Today reported that researchers were able to reach the lake only in 2012, after decades of drilling through the thick ice sheet.

Early to accept "new bacteria"

Peter Doran, a microbiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told OurAmazingPlanet via e-mail that he is very excited to know about the discovery. However, he cautioned against relying just on "press releases," reports NBC news

"I would caution, though, that this type of 'press release' science is a little dangerous. It really needs to go through the rigor of peer review by other experts in the field before I'll jump on board. Having others looking at their methods and data will provide support for their conclusions," Doran said, according to NBC news.

According to another expert from Russia, the discovery of the new bacteria may not be that sensational, as it was discovered in waters contaminated with kerosene.

"There has been one strain of bacteria which we did not find in drilling liquid, but these bacteria could in principal use kerosene as an energy source. That is why we can't say that a previously-unknown bacteria was found," said Vladimir Korolev from St. Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute in Russia, reports Russia Today.