The Natural Repertory of Prof. William Nelson

heterogeneity of their 16S rRNA sequences due to divergence over aeons.
As Isaacs points out jumps in species and genes also must follow quantic
law. The indices of those 16s rRNA sequences distinguish three major
divisions:
� The methanogens and halophiles
� Thermoplasma, a group containing a single organism
� A heterogeneous group of sulphur-dependent
thermoacidophiles, probably the most ancient of the
prokaryotes
These bacteria can live under acidic conditions (pH 1-6) and at elevated
temperatures (60-95 ºC). Sulfolobus oxidizes sulphur to sulphate while
others reduce sulphate to sulphide, like Archaeoglobus which develops
small quantities of methane as well. These are some of the extremes of
life, or conditions in which the matrix of life can operate.
The 16S tRNA sequences of the eubacteria indicated that, while Gram
positive organisms form a distinct group of related species, gram negative
organisms are much more diverse. The break into nine groups is defined
by a common coefficient of 0.2-0.3 within a group. Most Gram negative
bacteria belong to the purple bacteria group which has not only the
colored photosynthetic organisms but also many colorless analogues.
Samples of these analogues are E. coli and other enteric bacteria. The
green photosynthetic bacteria also go into two distinct groups ~
� Sulphur (hydrogen sulphide substrate)
� Non-sulphur (organic substrate) types
which are not closely related (SAB 0.18). The cyanobacteria consist of a
coherent group, and they are similar to the chloroplast organelles of
eukaryotic red and green algae, and green plants (SAB values of 0.25 –
0.30). If a quantum leap is performed in the genetic code of bacteria,
then this will result in a new type of bacteria.
The sulphate-reducing bacteria which use the oxygen of the sulphate
for a primitive form of respiration comprise a Gram negative eubacterial
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