The Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are a fascinating and versatile group of bacteria of immense biological importance. Thought to be amongst the first organisms to colonize the earth, these bacteria are the photosynthetic ancestors of chloroplasts in eukaryotes, such as plants and algae. In addition, they can fix nitrogen, survive in very hostile environments (e.g. down to -60C), are symbiotic, have circadian rhythms, exhibit gliding mobility, and can differentiate into specialized cell types called heterocysts. This makes them ideal model systems for studying fundamental processes, such as nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis. In addition, cyanobacteria produce an array of bioactive compounds, some of which could become novel anti-microbial agents, anti-cancer drugs, UV protectants, etc. The amazing versatility of cyanobacteria has attracted huge scientific interest in recent years. Given that 24 genomes sequences have been completed and many more projects are currently underway, the point has been reac