Scientists have identified a unique organism capable of surviving without relying on oxygen: Henneguya salminicola. The discovery has caught the attention of the scientific community because it challenges fundamental concepts about animal life.
This small parasite belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, the same as jellyfish and anemones, and was found in the muscles of salmon from the North Pacific. What makes it unique is its ability to live completely without oxygen, something that was previously considered impossible in multicellular animals.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel performed genetic analyses and observed that H. salminicola does not have mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondria are cellular structures responsible for producing energy using oxygen. The absence of this DNA indicates that the parasite does not perform aerobic respiration, making it the first animal known to live completely anaerobically.
This discovery expands our understanding of the limits of life on Earth. It also raises the possibility that similar organisms exist in extreme environments, such as the depths of the ocean or even beyond the planet.
Studying H. salminicola could help us understand how life can adapt to conditions previously considered inhospitable and inspire new research in evolutionary biology and astrobiology.
