Quiz

Study Notes

Organisms capable of living in extreme environments:

Extremophiles are organisms that can live or thrive in extreme environments.
They can survive conditions such as extreme temperature, radiation, salinity, or pH level.
Some spores and cocooned bacteria samples have been dormant for more than 40 million years.
Extremophiles are ecologically dominant in the evolutionary history of the planet.
They have continued to thrive in the most extreme conditions, making them one of the most abundant lifeforms.
Studying extreme environments on Earth can help researchers understand the limits of habitability on other worlds.
Astrobiologists are particularly interested in studying extremophiles to map what is known about the limits of life on Earth to potential extraterrestrial environments.
Extremophiles can be useful players in the bioremediation of contaminated sites.
They can also be effective in remediating metals, acid mine drainage, and radioactive materials.
New sub-types of extremophiles are identified frequently, and the sub-category list for extremophiles is always growing.
Studying these organisms may help illuminate the mechanisms of both toxicity and deficiency in certain elements.
The T. brockianus catalase has applications for removal of hydrogen peroxide in industrial processes.DNA Transfer in Extremophiles
Several biotechnology companies produce DNA modifying enzymes commercially.
Over 65 prokaryotic species are known to be naturally competent for genetic transformation.
D. radiodurans is one of the most radioresistant organisms known and is competent to perform genetic transformation.
Thermus thermophilus and other related Thermus species are also capable of genetic transformation.
Halobacterium volcanii is capable of natural genetic transformation using cytoplasmic bridges.
Sulfolobus solfataricus and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius are hyperthermophilic archaea capable of DNA transfer via cellular aggregation and homologous recombination.
Cellular aggregation in Sulfolobus may enhance species-specific DNA transfer between cells to repair damaged DNA.
Extracellular membrane vesicles (MVs) might be involved in DNA transfer between different hyperthermophilic archaeal species.
Plasmids and viral genomes can be transferred via MVs.
A horizontal plasmid transfer has been documented between hyperthermophilic Thermococcus and Methanocaldococcus species.
DNA transfer in Sulfolobus may be an early form of sexual interaction.
The DNA exchange process in Sulfolobus may be crucial under DNA damaging conditions such as high temperatures.

Description

Test your knowledge on the incredible organisms that can thrive in extreme environments with this quiz on extremophiles. From hyperthermophilic archaea to radioresistant organisms, learn about the unique adaptations that allow these lifeforms to survive in conditions that would be lethal to most other organisms. Discover how extremophiles are studied by astrobiologists and their potential applications in bioremediation. Plus, test your understanding of DNA transfer in extremophiles and its possible role in repairing damaged DNA.