Evening star., 1955-01-05
Underseu Menooerie
Found in Pucific Deeps
Microscopic Life swarms
In ooze Seven Miles Under
By Thomes r. Henry

By Thomcs R. Henry
BERKELEY, Calf. - The lowest
places on earth-the Mindanao and
Keramec-Tonga deeps in the Pacific
contain an abundance Of life.
Microscopic bacteria. as many a. so
million per ounce Of sediment. thrive
in the sea bottom ooze ct depths OF
almost seven miles and under pres
sures 1000 times greater than on the
earth's surface.
This was reported 10 the Ameri-
can Association for Advancement OF
Science by Dr.. Richard Y. Morita Of
the University Of California.
On the surface Of the ooze, even at
these great depths, are host Of such
lowly animals as sea cucumbers, star
fish. worms and so-called pyrosomas.
The latter are an obscure race Of crea-
lures Of about the consistency Of Jelly
which fluoresce slightly. This under
sea menagerie was discovered few
years ago by the Danish Galathea ex-
pedition, which was accompanied by
DR.. Claude Sohell Of the University of
California. DR.. Morita's own studies
were confined to the bacteria from the
bottom Of the Keramec deep just north
Of New Zealand.
Bacteria Diet.
Sea cucumbers, starfish and worms
may to some extent feed on each
other. DR.. Morita said. but the basic
food supply for all must be the ooze
bacteria which they obtain from mud.
There is no question, he said. that
the animals are actual deniZens Of the
great deeps from which they have been
recovered. II they were dead crea-
lures which had sunk to the bottom
they would have been decomposed rap
idly by the abundant bacteria. They
apparently have been adapted by many
generations Of evolution to live at
great depths, and those brought to the
surface were badly mutilated by the
decrease In pressure.
Some Of the bacteria, however, are
able to survive the change and ap.
parently can live under any pressures.
The majority. however, were dead
when brought to the surface.
Here is the Anal frontier Of life on
earth. 1t was pointed out. The BAG
terra afford abundant food for the
animals. What nutrients the bacteria
receive. other than from the animals
that die. is unknown.
Chromosomes, the bundles of
genes" which determine heredity
throughout life, consist of bundles Of
coiled threads about millionth Of an
inch thick. Each chromosome con.
tains several of these threads along
which are strung the hypothetical
points known as genes.
This finding from intensive electron
microscope observation was reported to
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Science by Or. Hans Ris,
University Of Wisconsin soologist.
Hitherto. there has been only the most
general notion Of the internal struc-
ture Of chromosomes.
Reproductive Pattern.
During cell division, the electron mi
croscope studies show, the tiny fibrils
apparently enlarge until they are twice
as thick. or a 500,00Oth OF an inch,
and then split lengthwise. Each half
goes to daughter cell, furnishing the
master pattern which these daughter
cells follow In growing into exact like
nesses Of the parents.
BY this means old cells Of tissues
are replaced with young cells identical
tn structure and function. BY the
same means sperm cells and ova are
created. each containing o chrome.
somal master pattern or the parent.
which merge to produce Offspring COM
bining the characters Of both parents.
DR.. Ris has found that chromosomes
In many different types Of plant and
animal cells all have threads OF the
same width as their basic units.
The work Of preparing chromosomes
for study under the electron micro
scope. with about a millionfold mag
nification, Is particularly exactfng. They
must be removed from living cells.
and still not destroyed or distorted.
DR.. Ris' success came from developing
new technique for this delicate lob.
It Is expected that the work win
prove Of great Importance in explains
ing why chromosomes behave is they
do--which is the essential basis Of
continuing life.