Extremophiles

Question 1

What are extremophiles?

Answer 1

Micro-organisms that thrive in extreme environments

Question 2

What can extremophiles tell us?

Answer 2

Under which range of conditions life is possible

Question 3

Three types of extreme environments

Answer 3

Physical extremes
Geochemical extremes
Biological extremes

Question 4

What are most extremophiles?

Answer 4

Prokaryotes

Question 5

What other extremophiles can you get?

Answer 5

Multicellular extremophiles
Vertebrates

Question 6

What are Thermophiles?

Answer 6

Most bacteria and archaea

Question 7

What are Hyperthermophiles?

Answer 7

Only bacteria and archaea

Question 8

Some eukaryote extremophile examples?

Answer 8

Psychrophiles
Acidophiles
Halophiles

Question 9

What are polyextremophiles?

Answer 9

Thrive in multiple extreme environments

Question 10

What are Tardigrades?

Answer 10

Exhibit cryptiobiosis (lack of life)
Shrives up as moisture leaves where it stays like this until moisture returns

Question 11

When were tardigrades discovered?

Answer 11

Goeze in 1773

Question 12

How many species have been found?

Answer 12

1150

Question 13

How big do Tardigrades grow?

Answer 13

About 1mm

Question 14

What does extreme mean?

Answer 14

Extreme values of any particular property such as pH or T are values that are far from the median for that ecosystem variable

Question 15

How does cold temperature affect enzymes?

Answer 15

Water freezes, ice crystals break up membranes

Question 16

How does hot temperature affect enzymes?

Answer 16

Chlorphyll, proteins and nucleic acids break down at high temperatures

Question 17

How do acidophiles tolerate acidity?

Answer 17

Survive by keeping the acid out

Question 18

What is Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Answer 18

Acidophile found in Yellowstone that survives in pH 3 and 80 degrees temperature

Question 19

What problem to pressure present to cells?

Answer 19

Molecules in cell membranes are compressed, resulting in decreased membrane fluidity preventing chemical reactions

Question 20

Standard atmospheric pressure compared to bottom of the Marian Trench

Answer 20

1.01 bar - 1086 bars from water column

Question 21

How does atmospheric pressure change going up?

Answer 21

Decreases - 10km up it is 1/4 of it at sea level

Question 22

How does lower atmospheric pressure effect the body?

Answer 22

Allow tissues to expand, breathing more difficult

Question 23

Oxygen in Early Earth

Answer 23

Was an anaerobic environment with start of photosynthesis

Question 24

Oxygen in todays earth

Answer 24

Abundant and key element to sustain plant and animal life through photosynthesis and respiration

Question 25

How does oxygen impact humans?

Answer 25

Oxidation damage to nucleic acids, proteins and lipids

Question 26

Mars Surface Temp

Answer 26

210K

Question 27

Mars Atmosphre Pressure

Answer 27

0.007 bars

Question 28

Mars atmosphere Composition

Answer 28

95% Co2

Question 29

Mars gravity

Answer 29

38% Earth

Question 30

Venus Surface Temp

Answer 30

737K

Question 31

Venus Atms pressure

Answer 31

92 bars

Question 32

Venus atms composition

Answer 32

96% Co2 Sulphuric acid clouds

Question 33

Vens gravity

Answer 33

88% Earth

Question 34

What is atmospheric pressure at sea level?

Answer 34

100kPa