Extremophiles Flashcards
What are extremophiles?
Micro-organisms that thrive in extreme environments
What can extremophiles tell us?
Under which range of conditions life is possible
Three types of extreme environments
Physical extremes
Geochemical extremes
Biological extremes
What are most extremophiles?
Prokaryotes
What other extremophiles can you get?
Multicellular extremophiles
Vertebrates
What are Thermophiles?
Most bacteria and archaea
What are Hyperthermophiles?
Only bacteria and archaea
Some eukaryote extremophile examples?
Psychrophiles
Acidophiles
Halophiles
What are polyextremophiles?
Thrive in multiple extreme environments
What are Tardigrades?
Exhibit cryptiobiosis (lack of life)
Shrives up as moisture leaves where it stays like this until moisture returns
When were tardigrades discovered?
Goeze in 1773
How many species have been found?
1150
How big do Tardigrades grow?
About 1mm
What does extreme mean?
Extreme values of any particular property such as pH or T are values that are far from the median for that ecosystem variable
How does cold temperature affect enzymes?
Water freezes, ice crystals break up membranes
How does hot temperature affect enzymes?
Chlorphyll, proteins and nucleic acids break down at high temperatures
How do acidophiles tolerate acidity?
Survive by keeping the acid out
What is Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
Acidophile found in Yellowstone that survives in pH 3 and 80 degrees temperature
What problem to pressure present to cells?
Molecules in cell membranes are compressed, resulting in decreased membrane fluidity preventing chemical reactions
Standard atmospheric pressure compared to bottom of the Marian Trench
1.01 bar - 1086 bars from water column
How does atmospheric pressure change going up?
Decreases - 10km up it is 1/4 of it at sea level
How does lower atmospheric pressure effect the body?
Allow tissues to expand, breathing more difficult
Oxygen in Early Earth
Was an anaerobic environment with start of photosynthesis
Oxygen in todays earth
Abundant and key element to sustain plant and animal life through photosynthesis and respiration
How does oxygen impact humans?
Oxidation damage to nucleic acids, proteins and lipids
Mars Surface Temp
210K
Mars Atmosphre Pressure
0.007 bars
Mars atmosphere Composition
95% Co2
Mars gravity
38% Earth
Venus Surface Temp
737K
Venus Atms pressure
92 bars
Venus atms composition
96% Co2
Sulphuric acid clouds
Vens gravity
88% Earth
What is atmospheric pressure at sea level?
100kPa
