String Eukarybacter

The Binucleus Neodetritivores’ adaptability and high tolerance of horizontal gene transfer has yet again caused a strange cellular hybrid between two very distantly related species. This time, it has incorporated an extensive part of Binucleusphotoedo stringi’s genome into its own. Because of the more stable genetic material from the photoedo, the String Eukarybacter’s ability to accept foreign DNA has been somewhat reduced, though they are still more capable of horizontal gene transfer than most other organisms. Thanks to the presence of both the Neodetritivores' highly HGT-receptive genes and the photoedo's more stable genes, the String Eukarybacter has evolved a sort of middle ground between the two extremes that still benefits it. String Eukarybacter is quite prone to HGT from its own species and closely related ones, but a group of special DNA repair enzymes are able to remove large sections of completely foreign DNA should they appear, thus preventing unfit or highly competitive hybrids.

Like Binucleusphotoedo stringi, String Eukarybacter forms long chains of cells, some of which can reach a few centimeters in length. However, they are now also able to tunnel between and slightly adhere to other cells. String Eukarybacter are generalist decomposers, and will cling to and devour almost any decaying material. Over a matter of hours, a single strand of this species can multiply to form a thin, slimy film over the exposed flesh of a dead organism. The few species they do have trouble with are either highly toxic or produce thick, indigestible cell walls, such as bubble siliconium.

While they do not have any plastids, the String Eukarybacter can produce all of the necessary chemicals to use and maintain green binucleid chloroplasts. On the rare occasion that a String Eukarybacter picks up a functional plastid from a crystal flora or other photosynthetic binucleid, it is able to use it and even have it reproduce, providing a beneficial source of nutrients for the whole filament.

Despite the unique adaptations and rapid reproduction of this organism, it has one notable weakness: they are somewhat temperature sensitive. Oddly enough, they prefer cooler climates, though they cannot survive in especially cold or freezing waters. The preferred temperature of this species is what limits it to the northern section of the LadyM ocean, though it is not out of the possibility that its descendants could adapt to warmer or colder climates.