Extremophiles: Difference between revisions
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Extremophiles are organisms with the ability to thrive in extreme conditions (from a human perspective) such as: deep ocean hydrothermal vents<ref>NOAA 10/10/17 https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/extremophile.html</ref>. | |||
They are mostly [[Prokaryotic|prokaryotic]]. | They are mostly [[Prokaryotic|prokaryotic]]. | ||
Extremophiles can be divided into sub-groups relating to environmental conditions in which they grow optimally<ref>https://www.britannica.com/science/extremophile</ref>: | Extremophiles can be divided into sub-groups relating to environmental conditions in which they grow optimally<ref>https://www.britannica.com/science/extremophile</ref>: | ||
{| width="500" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" | {| width="500" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Acidophilic|acidophilic]] | ||
| optimal growth in [[ | | optimal growth in [[Acidic|acidic conditions]] (pH 1-5) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Alkaliphilic|alkaliphilic]] | ||
| optimal growth [[ | | optimal growth [[Alkaline|alkaline]] conditions (pH>9) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Halophilic|halophilic]] | ||
| environments with high salt concentration | | environments with high salt concentration | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Thermophilic|thermophilic]] | ||
| optimal growth between 60-80 degrees celsius | | optimal growth between 60-80 degrees celsius | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Hyperthermophilic|hyperthermophilic]] | ||
| optimal growth above 80 degrees celsius | | optimal growth above 80 degrees celsius | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Psychrophilic|psychrophilic]] | ||
| optimal growth at 15 degrees celsius or lower | | optimal growth at 15 degrees celsius or lower | ||
|- | |- | ||
| piezophilic/barophilic | | piezophilic/barophilic | ||
| optimal growth high[[ | | optimal growth high[[Hydrostatic pressure|hydrostatic pressure ]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Xerophilic|xerophilic]] | ||
| growth in dry conditions with low water availabilty | | growth in dry conditions with low water availabilty | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Oligotrophic|oligotrophic]] | ||
| growth in nutritionally limited environments | | growth in nutritionally limited environments | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[ | | [[Endolithic|endolithic]] | ||
| | | | ||
growth in rocks or pores in mineral grains | growth in rocks or pores in mineral grains | ||
|} | |} | ||
Some extremophiles have multiple adoptions. e.g. thermoacidophiles<ref>Life in hot acid: Pathway analyses in extremely thermoacidophilic archaea Kathryne S. Auernik, Charlotte R. Cooper, and Robert M. Kelly* Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2008 Oct; 19(5): 445–453. Published online 2008 Sep 11.</ref>. | |||
Kathryne S. Auernik, Charlotte R. Cooper, and Robert M. Kelly* Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2008 Oct; 19(5): 445–453. | |||
Published online 2008 Sep 11.</ref> | |||
=== | === Future advances === | ||
Extremophiles have extremozymes which are the enzymes that enable the organism to live in harsh conditions. This could influence: genetically based medications and industrial chemicals and processes<ref>NOAA 10/10/17 https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/extremophile.html</ref>. | |||
=== References | === References === | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 20:20, 6 December 2017
Extremophiles are organisms with the ability to thrive in extreme conditions (from a human perspective) such as: deep ocean hydrothermal vents[1].
They are mostly prokaryotic.
Extremophiles can be divided into sub-groups relating to environmental conditions in which they grow optimally[2]:
| acidophilic | optimal growth in acidic conditions (pH 1-5) |
| alkaliphilic | optimal growth alkaline conditions (pH>9) |
| halophilic | environments with high salt concentration |
| thermophilic | optimal growth between 60-80 degrees celsius |
| hyperthermophilic | optimal growth above 80 degrees celsius |
| psychrophilic | optimal growth at 15 degrees celsius or lower |
| piezophilic/barophilic | optimal growth highhydrostatic pressure |
| xerophilic | growth in dry conditions with low water availabilty |
| oligotrophic | growth in nutritionally limited environments |
| endolithic |
growth in rocks or pores in mineral grains |
Some extremophiles have multiple adoptions. e.g. thermoacidophiles[3].
Future advances
Extremophiles have extremozymes which are the enzymes that enable the organism to live in harsh conditions. This could influence: genetically based medications and industrial chemicals and processes[4].
References
- ↑ NOAA 10/10/17 https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/extremophile.html
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/science/extremophile
- ↑ Life in hot acid: Pathway analyses in extremely thermoacidophilic archaea Kathryne S. Auernik, Charlotte R. Cooper, and Robert M. Kelly* Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2008 Oct; 19(5): 445–453. Published online 2008 Sep 11.
- ↑ NOAA 10/10/17 https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/extremophile.html