Living Beings
    Source-identified Synechococcus elongatus; Source-identified documentary image; see the original file for method and context. Framed for display
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    Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 electron micrograph showing carboxysomes.jpeg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Source-identified documentary image; see the original file for method and context. Raul Gonzalez and Cheryl Kerfeld · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Field guide · species

    Synechococcus elongatus

    Nageli 1849

    What does the authority mean?

    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    BacillatiCyanophyceaeSynechococcalesSynechococcaceae

    Synechococcus elongatus is a photosynthetic cyanobacterium widely used to study biological timing. Research on its clock shows how a single-celled organism can coordinate essential processes with recurring environmental cycles.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainBacteria
    3. KingdomBacillati
    4. PhylumCyanobacteriota
    5. ClassCyanophyceae
    6. OrderSynechococcales
    7. FamilySynechococcaceae
    8. GenusSynechococcus
    9. SpeciesSynechococcus elongatus
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Bacteria domain
    3. Bacillati kingdom
    4. Cyanobacteriota/Melainabacteria group clade
    5. Cyanobacteriota phylum
    6. Cyanophyceae class
    7. Synechococcales order
    8. Synechococcaceae family
    9. Synechococcus genus
    10. Synechococcus elongatus species
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    Structure and identification

    Cells are elongated rods containing photosynthetic membranes and pigments. A green or blue-green culture is not enough for species identification.

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    Habitat and range

    Freshwater-derived laboratory strains are central to research. They should not be conflated with every marine organism named Synechococcus.

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    Nutrition and metabolism

    Light-driven photosynthesis supports carbon fixation, together with uptake of the inorganic nutrients required for growth.

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    Biological activity

    An internal circadian system influences physiology. Clock function can help coordinate DNA replication with the environment.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    Vegetative cells grow and divide. DNA replication and cell division must be coordinated to produce viable descendants.

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    Geographic distribution

    Research strains are cultured internationally; their use does not establish a complete natural distribution map.

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    Ecological role

    As a phototrophic microbe, it illustrates the production of organic material from inorganic carbon in aquatic communities.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Internal timekeeping supports anticipation rather than a response based only on the immediate presence of light.

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    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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