New type of chlorophyll identified - Democratic Underground

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Mon Aug-23-10 03:33 PM
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New type of chlorophyll identified

Stuart Gary
ABC

stromatolites shark bay (istock)

Scientists have discovered a new type of chlorophyll in ancient Australian bacteria.

The finding could lead to new types of bio-energy to power the future.

Over the past 60 years scientists have known of four types of chlorophyll used by plants to harvest light and convert it into chemical energy, a process called photosynthesis.

In a report published today in the journal Science, researchers have found a fifth type of chlorophyll in a colony of bacteria in stromatolites at Shark Bay on the Western Australian coast.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/08/20/2987657.htm

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