Strain 121
Encyclopedia
Strain 121 is a single-cell
ed microbe, of the domain
Archaea
. First discovered 200 miles (321.9 km) off Puget Sound
in a hydrothermal vent
, it is a hyperthermophile
, able to survive and reproduce at 121 °C (249.8 °F) (hence its name). It was (at the time of discovery) the only known form of life
that can tolerate such high temperature
s. 130 °C (266 °F) is proven to be only biostatic for Strain 121, meaning that although growth is halted, the archaeum remains viable, and can resume reproducing once it has been transferred to a cooler medium.
The ability to grow at 121 degrees Celsius is significant because medical equipment is exposed to this temperature for sterilization in an autoclave
. Prior to the 2003 discovery of Strain 121, a fifteen-minute exposure to autoclave temperatures
was believed to kill all living organisms.
Strain 121 metabolizes
by reducing
iron oxide
.
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
ed microbe, of the domain
Domain (biology)
In biological taxonomy, a domain is the highest taxonomic rank of organisms, higher than a kingdom. According to the three-domain system of Carl Woese, introduced in 1990, the Tree of Life consists of three domains: Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya...
Archaea
Archaea
The Archaea are a group of single-celled microorganisms. A single individual or species from this domain is called an archaeon...
. First discovered 200 miles (321.9 km) off Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
in a hydrothermal vent
Hydrothermal vent
A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated water issues. Hydrothermal vents are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart, ocean basins, and hotspots. Hydrothermal vents exist because the earth is both...
, it is a hyperthermophile
Hyperthermophile
A hyperthermophile is an organism that thrives in extremely hot environments— from 60 degrees C upwards. An optimal temperature for the existence of hyperthermophiles is above 80°C . Hyperthermophiles are a subset of extremophiles, micro-organisms within the domain Archaea, although some bacteria...
, able to survive and reproduce at 121 °C (249.8 °F) (hence its name). It was (at the time of discovery) the only known form of life
Life
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
that can tolerate such high temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
s. 130 °C (266 °F) is proven to be only biostatic for Strain 121, meaning that although growth is halted, the archaeum remains viable, and can resume reproducing once it has been transferred to a cooler medium.
The ability to grow at 121 degrees Celsius is significant because medical equipment is exposed to this temperature for sterilization in an autoclave
Autoclave
An autoclave is an instrument used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure saturated steam at 121 °C for around 15–20 minutes depending on the size of the load and the contents. It was invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879, although a precursor known as the...
. Prior to the 2003 discovery of Strain 121, a fifteen-minute exposure to autoclave temperatures
Thermal death time
Thermal death time is a concept used to determine how long it takes to kill a specific bacteria at a specific temperature. It was developed for food canning and has found applications in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.-History:...
was believed to kill all living organisms.
Strain 121 metabolizes
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
by reducing
Redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....
iron oxide
Iron oxide
Iron oxides are chemical compounds composed of iron and oxygen. All together, there are sixteen known iron oxides and oxyhydroxides.Iron oxides and oxide-hydroxides are widespread in nature, play an important role in many geological and biological processes, and are widely utilized by humans, e.g.,...
.
External links
- Guardian News
- Pulse of the Planet
- New Scientist article
- Science Daily article
- NSF "Microbe from Depths Takes Life to Hottest Known Limit"