Team:IISc-Bangalore/Description
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Gas Vesicles: An Introduction
Have you ever seen an algal bloom — a noxious mass of cyanobacteria floating on the surface of eutrophic ponds and lakes? These cyanobacteria, like many other aquatic microorganisms, synthesize gas vesicles to help them float to the surface. Gas vesicles are hollow, gas-filled organelles that reduce the overall density of the cell and make it buoyant enough to float in water. The synthesis and degradation of gas vesicles can be controlled by the cell to adjust its buoyancy and hence change its vertical position in the water column — a useful trait when competing for sunlight to photosynthesize or when trying to find enough dissolved oxygen for respiration!
