Borgs are giant linear extrachromosomal elements (ECEs) of methane-oxidizing Methanoperedens archaea whose evolutionary origin and ecosystem distribution remain unknown. Here we detected 240 Borgs in diverse saline, soil, and freshwater ecosystems. 27 encode methyl-coenzyme M reductases central to methane metabolism, eight have full rRNA operons related to those of Methanoperedens, and some contain up to four ribosomal proteins. We also identified 323 mini-Borgs whose proteome content and gene phylogenies classify as a distinct ECE type. Based on 105 complete and near-complete genomes, Borgs and mini-Borgs share core genes in conserved order, indicating common ancestry. Phylogenetic and diversity analyses suggest that Borgs evolved via gene acquisition into a backbone inherited from mini-Borgs. This evolutionary trajectory mirrors those proposed for giant viruses of both eukaryotes and bacteria.
ChatGPT in healthcare: perceptions, ethical considerations, and practice implications among healthcare professionals in Ecuador and other countries in the Americas: a cross-sectional survey study
BackgroundGenerative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, are increasingly discussed in healthcare; however, evidence from Latin American professional settings is limited and must be interpreted