Thermophile

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Thermophile

A Thermophile is an organism — a type of extremophile — that thrives at relatively high temperatures, between 41 and 122 °C (106 and 252 °F). Many thermophiles are archaea, though there are also bacterial thermophiles.

Classification[edit | edit source]

Thermophiles can be classified into three main categories:

  • Obligate thermophiles (also called extreme thermophiles): These organisms can only function at high temperatures and are found in various geothermally heated regions of the earth, such as deep sea hydrothermal vents and hot springs.
  • Facultative thermophiles: These organisms can thrive at high temperatures, but also at lower temperatures (below 40 °C).
  • Hyperthermophiles: These organisms grow optimally at temperatures above 80 °C.

Adaptation[edit | edit source]

Thermophiles have unique adaptations that allow them to survive in extreme heat. These include protein stability, membrane stability, and the presence of chaperone proteins.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Thermophiles have many applications in biotechnology, including their use in PCR, a DNA amplification technique, and in enzyme production.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]


Thermophile Resources

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