| Roombia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Light (above) and transmission electron micrographs (below) of R. truncata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Pancryptista |
| Phylum: | Cryptista |
| Class: | Leucocryptea |
| Order: | Kathablepharidida |
| Family: | Kathablepharidae |
| Genus: | Roombia |
| Species: | R. truncata |
| Binomial name | |
| Roombia truncata Okamoto et al., 2009 | |
Roombia truncata is a species of katablepharids, which are heterotrophic single-celled organisms. [1]
It was the first katablepharid to be generally available in cell culture, starting around 2009. The culture consists of Roombia, the diatom Navicula , and unidentified bacteria. Navicula provides the main food source for Roombia, although Roombia also feeds on the bacteria. [1]
The Roombia Truncata was identified through SSU rRNA gene analysis as a typical component of eukaryotes however its complete set of RNA transcripts show mgR2-like CCr (Light sensitive ion channel) unlike other cryptists within this branch of the eukaryotic tree of life.
Roombia was named after the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner. [1]
