Extremophiles

Extremophiles are organisms that live in environments generally considered too extreme to be hospitable to most other organisms. This can include extremes of temperature, pressure and acidity. In fact, some extremophiles thrive in exotic environments and cannot survive in more temperate settings.¹

Fast Facts

1. Can be found in the ocean, near volcanoes and in the arctic²
2. Usually single-celled organisms like bacteria, but can be multicellular ^{1 3}
3. Extremophiles show strong evidence for evolution by adaptation⁴

Extremophiles and Astrobiology

Extremophiles are of significant interest to the field of astrobiology, which is concerned with the search for extraterrestrial life. Because extremophiles can survive in severe conditions, many of which are replicated on other worlds or in outer space, it is believed that extremophile bacteria might be found in the soil of Mars, on other planets or on asteroids.⁵ A September, 2008 study published in Current Biology stated that the nearly microscopic animal known as a 'water bear' was able to survive in space for 10 days.⁶

Related Sites on Mahalo

Bold Traveller | Evolution | Biology | Microbiology | Campylobacteriosis | Viruses | Animals

Categories