India, Feb. 27 -- The parasite did not have mitochondrial genome and therefore, did not performaerobic respiration, according to researchers
Scientists at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have accidentally discovered a parasite that does not breathe in oxygen.
Most animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide through a chemical process called aerobic respiration. This is how they get energy to perform essential functions needed for survival.
According to the findings, published in PNAS on February 25, the parasite Henneguya salminicola lived in salmon muscle. It had a body of only 10 cells. The discovery has challenged the assumptions about the animal world, according to researchers.
The parasite lived in a salmon muscle. Photo: Wikimed...