Elusive microbe fertilizes oceans

[quote]

The single-celled critter has a very telling and surprising genome
By Larry O'Hanlon,
Discovery Channel
updated 11:03 a.m. CT, Fri., Nov. 14, 2008

After a long search researchers think they have found a cryptic microbe that helps fertilize ocean waters worldwide. Or at least they have found the single-celled critter's very telling and surprising genome.

The actual microbe — a type of bacteria known as cyanobacteria — has so far eluded direct observation

[end quote - check the link for the details]

The gist of this article is that scientists have been unable to actually find this little critter, so they gave up on looking for it and just mapped its DNA instead.

1. They think it exists (but aren't too sure?)

2. Nobody has ever seen it.

3. They think it's very important, and that life as we know it couldn't possibly exist without it.

4. And they now know a whole lot about it.

5. Except the still haven't actually found it.

Is it ? ... ? ... ***?

[The FSM isn't this mysterious.]

John