Post 15: Promethearchaeum syntrophicum officially exists 🦠

I am pleased to inform you that the article describing the first cultivated Asgardian archaeon, Promethearchaeum syntrophicum, has been officially published.

When you discover a new species, especially entirely new groups, as is the case here, you have to provide a detailed description and submit it for review by many committees to validate your proposal. Here’s a summary of the process explained by me.

With the publication of this report, another step in the validation process is completed. Once finalized, the entire group of Asgardian archaea would be renamed Promethearchaeota, as one of the rules states that “the largest group in the taxonomic hierarchy must be named according to the first cultivated member of that group.”

There’s a fun fact you can use to impress your crush, you’re welcome 😉.

Refs:

• The article in question
• A letter from the authors

And more info about Asgardian archaea and how we might actually be archaea: 1) Mom… I’m an archaeon! 2) A new Asgardian archaeon! 3) We are all Asgardians