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Eukaryote is the term describing one of the domains of living organisms, those with a nucleus and organelles bounded by internal phospholipid membrane systems. In contrast to bacteria and archaea, eukaryotes may be multicellular. Animals, plants, fungi and many unicellular organisms previously classified as protista are eukaryotes.
Chiang et al. map a genetic interaction in animal mitochondrial DNA by recombination. This reveals how polymorphisms in two complex IV subunits jointly affect cardiolipin binding to impact complex stability, organismal fitness and disease expression.
Synthetic biology is maturing into a true engineering discipline for model microorganisms, but remains far from straightforward for most eukaryotes. Here, we outline the key challenges facing those trying to engineer biology across eukaryota and suggest areas of focus that will aid future progress.
The finding that the archaeonIgnicoccus hospitalishas a charged outer membrane has implications for symbiosis and, possibly, for the evolution of eukaryotes.