Haiku for T. namibiensis
Too bright to miss.
Stench removed
while pearl bejeweled.
Cleansing ocean depths.
Scientific Description
The name of this bacterial genus means sulfur (“Thio-”) pearl (“margarita”). Although the microbes don’t actually grow pearls like oysters do, they do accumulate microscopic sulfur granules within their cells when they oxidize sulfide, which is their food. The internal sulfur granules that build up inside the cells scatter light, endowing the granules with an opalescence that gives it a “pearl-like” luster. Also, the type of cell division that T. nambiensis does, forms long chains of cells that are reminiscent of strings of pearls.
Spiritual Significance
Thiomargarita namibiensis is a giantess among the bacteria, who not only drapes herself in strings of opalescent pearls, but also doesn’t let go of her progeny easily. She prefers to hold hands with her daughter cells, forming strands of her identical offspring, in a formation that reflects her jewelry. Like her cousins Thioploca and Beggiatoa, she survives on hydrogen sulfide and nitrate. But unlike her cousins, who are flagellated and sinuous, she is a rotund and very large cell with no ability to move to acquire her food. Using the ingenuity that bacteria are well adapted to do, after eons of practice, T. namibiensis applies unique way to overcome her innate immobility. She simply came up with special compartments to store food during times of hardship when that food is scarce. T. namibiensis teaches us that it is possible to overcome personal shortcomings and still find a way to survive under limited circumstances. T. namibiensis not only surmounts obstacles of scarcity by refashioning her own body to fit the need, but she is beauteous and bright while doing so. While holding her nitrate-vacuolated breath, she flashes her pearly sulfur globules in the rich ocean depths and proudly shows off her strands of equally endowed daughters. T. namibiensis does have the talent of ridding the sea floor of foul smelling hydrogen sulfide, so she teaches another lesson—that of holding your breath while cleaning up odorous crevices, and making something shiny, bright and beautiful from the gunk.
Thiomargarita namibiensis is pronounced: Thigh-Oh-Mar-gah-rita Nam-ee-bee-en-sis.
JeM YinJoy, Supermooning at La Push, WA.