A New Way to Find the Tree of Life's Missing Branches
Scientists have devised a method to sequence more microbes, more quickly, which could lead to a better understanding of the origin of complex life.
by Sarah Zhang
Jan 08, 2018
3 minutes
Scientists have been been studying the DNA of microbes for a quarter-century, and in that time, they have sequenced about 2 million microbes. By one estimate, as many as 1 trillion microbial species may live on Earth.
Progress? 0.0002 percent.
Only a tiny fraction of the tree of life has been filled in. In fact, whole branches are likely still yet to be discovered: branches of microbes , branches of microbes that might be the that became humans. At the current rate, says , it
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