A researcher discovers a new single-celled bacterium very similar to Thiomargarita namibiensis. At first she is confused because this organism is quite large compared with other bacteria. She also knows that because of diffusion, most bacterial cells don't exceed 1$\mu$m in size. What might the researcher notice about the internal structure of her new bacterium?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thiomargarita namibiensis is known for its unusually large size among bacteria, primarily due to a large vacuole that occupies most of the cell volume. This vacuole reduces the cytoplasmic volume, effectively limiting the distance molecules need to diffuse and thus supporting the cell's metabolic needs despite its large size. Other options involving membrane-bound organelles or histones are not characteristic of bacterial cells, which generally lack these eukaryotic features.

A Researcher Discovers a New Single-Celled Bacterium Very Similar to Thiomargarita