Extremophile bacteria
Extremophile bacteria are microorganisms that thrive in extreme environmental conditions where most life forms cannot survive.
Habitat Examples: Volcanic vents, permafrost, acid mines, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and dark lakes under polar ice caps.
Applications: Used in biotechnology, such as the production of heat-resistant enzymes like Taq DNA polymerase for PCR in molecular biology.
Earth Microbiome Project (EMP)
The EMP was an initiative founded by Janet Jansson, Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight in 2010 to collect natural samples and analyze microbial life
Objective: To sequence 200,000 genetic samples and assemble 500,000 microbial genomes.
Goal: Map and understand the diversity of microorganisms on Earth.
How Extremophiles Survive in Extreme Conditions
Extremophiles have multiple sets of proteins, each specialized for different extreme conditions (e.g., high temperatures, acidity, drought).
Adaptive Mechanisms: Activate specific proteins based on environmental challenges to survive and thrive.
What Are Dark Lakes?
Lakes buried kilometers under polar ice caps, which are isolated from sunlight and other external influences.
Characteristics: These lakes are often extremely cold and have unique microbial ecosystems adapted to these harsh conditions.
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