In the Ocean, Extracellular Vesicles Can Share DNA

Little sacs can bud from cells, and they are known as extracellular vesicles. These little sacs can contain many molecules from the cell, like proteins, RNA, and bits of DNA. Scientists have now found that extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the ocean can facilitate the transfer of molecules between cells. These EVs serve as important modes of microbial communications, and are involved in horizontal gene transfer (HGT), in which mobile genetic elements can be shared among cells. This study has shown that direct contact between cells is not necessary for…