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The species used here (mycoplasma) does not have a cell wall. ;) The whole point was that the new genome, when transferred to a recipient bacteria's plasma mem
by kyberias 11y ago
The species used here (mycoplasma) does not have a cell wall. ;)
The whole point was that the new genome, when transferred to a recipient bacteria's plasma membrane with the recipient's genome removed, produces a different phenotype, which they showed. I think they are entitled to call this a minimal cell.
- AnimalMuppet 11y ago> The species used here (mycoplasma) does not have a cell wall. ;) OK, I am not a biologist (I don't even play one on TV), so ELI5: How is that possible? How can a cell not have a cell wall?
- mikeyouse 11y agoMost cells don't have cell walls, typically only plant species / fungi and some bacteria do. I think the confusion here is due to the term 'cell wall' which has a very specific meaning in biology and doesn't just denote the outer parameter of a cell. The 'cell membrane' is what keeps all the innards of a cell in place, but that's a distinct structure to the cell wall. http://www.majordifferences.com/2013/10/difference-cell-wall-vs-and-cell.html http://www.majordifferences.com/2013/10/difference-cell-wall...
- AnimalMuppet 11y agoOK, got it. So, in my original post, just replace "cell wall" with "cell membrane", and you'll have what I should have said...