While a majority these type of organisms are microbes, a few higher organisms are also found to exhibit an extremophilic nature such as Antarctic krill, Antarctic salps, crocodile icefish, colossal squid, etc.
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Like it? Share it! Extremophiles are microbial organisms that thrive and proliferate in extreme living conditions. The term "extreme" is used to describe environmental conditions that are too extreme for human existence.
Organisms that can live at even higher temperatures, i.e., more than 80°C are called hyperthermophiles. These organisms survive on a sulfur mediated cellular respiration as compared to the general oxygen driven respiration.
Other thermophiles can be found in crater lakes, peat bogs and even in superheated hydrothermal vents on the deep ocean floor. Radioresistant Microbes (extreme radiation) — Organisms that can consistently survive doses of radiation that are 500 times greater than the lethal dose for humans.
One example of a thermophile is cyanidium, an algae that lives in the hot water springs in Yellowstone National Park. Other thermophiles can be found in crater lakes, peat bogs and even in superheated hydrothermal vents on the deep ocean floor.
Most extremophiles are microorganisms (and a high proportion of these are archaea), but this group also includes eukaryotes such as protists (e.g., algae, fungi and protozoa) and multicellular organisms. Archaea is the main group to thrive in extreme environments.
The word extremophile therefore describes a microorganism that loves extreme conditions. Depending on their genetic structure, extremophiles can thrive in different environments. Today we look at four types of extremophiles: thermophiles, psychrophiles, halophiles and acidophiles.
Extremophiles are organisms that have been discovered on Earth that survive in environments that were once thought not to be able to sustain life. These extreme environments include intense heat, highly acidic environments, extreme pressure and extreme cold.
Classes of extremophiles include acidophiles (acid lovers), halophiles (salt lovers), psychrophiles (extreme cold lovers), and radiophiles (radiation lovers). Tardigrades or water bears can survive varied extreme conditions including excess dryness, lack of oxygen, extreme cold, low pressure, and toxins.
Extremophiles are Archaea who live in extreme environments. Three types of extremophiles are halophiles (salt), hypothermophiles (heat), and acidophiles (acid).
Toughest bacterium The bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans can live in extreme sircumstances. The most extreme extremophile that is known at the moment is the Deinococcus radiodurans. This microbe can survive extreme cold, drought, thin air and acid.
Thermophilic bacteria are those that thrive within high temperatures, usually between 45 and 80 C (113 and 176F) and are found in environments such as hot springs, peat bogs, and near deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
salt lakesBacterial halophiles are abundant in environments such as salt lakes, saline soils, and salted food products. Most species keep their intracellular ionic concentrations at low levels while synthesizing or accumulating organic solutes to provide osmotic equilibrium of the cytoplasm with the surrounding medium.
1. Psychrophiles are cold-loving bacteria. Their optimum growth temperature is between − 5°C and 15°C. They are usually found in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and in streams fed by glaciers.
Some extremophiles are adapted simultaneously to multiple stresses (polyextremophile); common examples include thermoacidophiles and haloalkaliphiles. Yellow mats of extremophile archaea in a geothermal pool in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S.
Studies on radiophiles are quite limited as they are to be isolated from extreme environments like outer space of other planets. These organisms have low diversity with all organisms belonging to the archaea and bacteria families. Radiophiles can either be radiation tolerant or radiation-resistant.
Extremophiles include multicellular organisms, cold-lovers include vertebrates such as penguins and polar bears.
Extremophiles include multicellular organisms, cold-lovers include vertebrates such as penguins and polar bears.
An extremophile is an organism that thrives in extreme environments. Extremophiles are organisms that live in "extreme environments," under high pressure and temperature. Bacteria often form on the rocks near the hydrothermal vents.
Extremophiles are organisms that have evolved to survive in environments once thought to be entirely uninhabitable. These environments are inhospitable, reaching extreme conditions of heat, acidity, pressure, and cold that would be fatal to most other life forms.
An extremophile is an organism that lives in an extreme environment. An extreme environment is one in which most organisms would find it difficult or impossible to survive. The organisms that live in these places have highly specialised adaptations .
While a majority these type of organisms are microbes, a few higher organisms are also found to exhibit an extremophilic nature such as Antarctic krill, Antarctic salps, crocodile icefish, colossal squid, etc.
Let's Work Together! The word “extremophile” is derived from Latin “extremus” meaning ‘extreme’ and Greek “philiā” meaning ‘love’, and was first used by R.D. MacElroy in the year 1974. They are organisms that possess the ability to survive conditions that are too extreme or harsh for human existence and survival.
Extremophiles are microbial organisms that thrive and proliferate in extreme living conditions. The term "extreme" is used to describe environmental conditions that are too extreme for human existence. BiologyWise elaborates on the types of different extremophiles, and the conditions in which they are found to proliferate.
Alkaliphile. They thrive at extremely alkaline conditions of pH 8.5 to 11. Basic pH brings about the denaturation of nucleic acids. To overcome this, the organisms develop methods of cytosolic acidification, thereby, maintaining a neutral pH, allowing the cellular components to function normally.
They are able to survive and proliferate by utilizing traces of iron, sulfur, and potassium as a source of food. The exact method adopted by them for their survival is yet unknown.
They produce energy by assimilating and digesting these dissolved metal ions.
Xerophile. These are organisms that can survive in conditions with very low water availability. They are able to survive such conditions by limiting their use and excretion of water. Mold is the most common example of this type of extremophile.
Other thermophiles can be found in crater lakes, peat bogs and even in superheated hydrothermal vents on the deep ocean floor. Radioresistant Microbes (extreme radiation) — Organisms that can consistently survive doses of radiation that are 500 times greater than the lethal dose for humans.
The organisms that live in these extreme environments are called extremophiles The reason we study extremophiles on Earth is to better understand the wide range ...
Tardigrada have been shown to survive: Temperatures ranging from ‑200 °C (-328 F) to 151 °C (304 F) Pressure ranging from near vacuum (like that found in outer space) to 1,200 times atmospheric pressure.
Xerophiles (extreme dryness; lack of water) — Organisms that can grow and reproduce in conditions with very little water available. Xerophiles have evolved means to store and conserve any water they encounter, so it is available when needed (even if there is no water left in the surrounding environment).
Barophiles have evolved a waxy cell layer which protects against both crushing pressures and frigid temperatures. Just to stay alive, the barophile Halomonas salaria requires pressure 1,000 times that found at Earth’s surface.
Dunaliella salina is a halophile algae that lives in salt ponds and concentrates beta-carotene in its cell walls (resulting in an orange or pinkish color).
Thermophiles (extreme heat) — Organisms with the ability to survive at temperatures of 140° F or even higher. Similar to psychrophiles, thermophiles have developed special proteins that allow them to tolerate a broad range of temperatures, in some cases including temperatures above the boiling point of water.