英國廣播公司（BBC）網(wǎng)站5日報(bào)導(dǎo),，加拿大研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)一種既獨(dú)特又怪異的植物寄生于動物體內(nèi)的實(shí)例─綠藻入侵還在發(fā)育中的兩棲動物蠑螈的胚胎與之共生，據(jù)研判其原因可能來自遺傳,。這項(xiàng)研究成果已刊載于美國國家科學(xué)院院刊 PNAS ,。
首度證明植物與脊椎動物共生
這是首度有證據(jù)證明植物與脊椎動物共生,。更奇怪的是，研究人員認(rèn)為,，這種北美地區(qū)常見的星點(diǎn)蠑螈,，胚胎里之所以會有綠藻，可能是蠑螈胚胎遺傳自它的父母,。星點(diǎn)蠑螈只有在獵食與繁衍后代時(shí)才會浮出水面,；它們在池塘里產(chǎn)卵，讓卵在靠近水面處漂浮─對藻類而言,，此處正是充滿陽光又受到保護(hù)的理想環(huán)境,。
主持這項(xiàng)研究計(jì)劃的加拿大戴爾豪斯大學(xué)博士后研究員柯尼說，這些星點(diǎn)蠑螈的卵是綠色的,，因?yàn)槁涯依镉芯G藻,；卵囊里的綠藻為蠑螈胚胎提供氧氣，綠藻也從胚胎排泄物取得所需要的氮,。
此前,，許多科學(xué)家認(rèn)為，植物應(yīng)該無法生長于脊椎動物的細(xì)胞內(nèi),，因?yàn)轸~,、鳥、爬蟲類與哺乳動物（包括人類）等的脊椎動物,，擁有相當(dāng)特殊的免疫系統(tǒng),，應(yīng)該不可能讓外來有機(jī)體存活于其細(xì)胞內(nèi)。
胚胎內(nèi)綠藻 遺傳自父母,？
科學(xué)家早在一世紀(jì)前便已發(fā)現(xiàn)這種共生關(guān)系,，但始終搞不懂綠藻如何進(jìn)入胚胎內(nèi)?？履嵴f,，他們在成年蠑螈的生殖器官內(nèi)發(fā)現(xiàn)藻類的DNA，意味蠑螈胚胎內(nèi)的綠藻,，可能是遺傳自它的父母,，「我們稱之為垂直傳遞（vertical transmission），但也有可能是垂直傳遞,，再加上從環(huán)境中吸收藻類所致,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.1018259108
Intracellular invasion of green algae in a salamander host
Ryan Kerneya,1, Eunsoo Kimb, Roger P. Hangarterc, Aaron A. Heissa, Cory D. Bishopd, and Brian K. Halla
The association between embryos of the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and green algae (“Oophila amblystomatis” Lamber ex Printz) has been considered an ectosymbiotic mutualism. We show here, however, that this symbiosis is more intimate than previously reported. A combination of imaging and algal 18S rDNA amplification reveals algal invasion of embryonic salamander tissues and cells during development. Algal cells are detectable from embryonic and larval Stages 26–44 through chlorophyll autofluorescence and algal 18S rDNA amplification. Algal cell ultrastructure indicates both degradation and putative encystment during the process of tissue and cellular invasion. Fewer algal cells were detected in later-stage larvae through FISH, suggesting that the decline in autofluorescent cells is primarily due to algal cell death within the host. However, early embryonic egg capsules also contained encysted algal cells on the inner capsule wall, and algal 18S rDNA was amplified from adult reproductive tracts, consistent with oviductal transmission of algae from one salamander generation to the next. The invasion of algae into salamander host tissues and cells represents a unique association between a vertebrate and a eukaryotic alga, with implications for research into cell–cell recognition, possible exchange of metabolites or DNA, and potential congruence between host and symbiont population structures.
