Strain 121

Taxobox
color = darkgray
name="Strain 121"
domain = Archaea
phylum = Euryarchaeota
classis = Thermoprotei
ordo = "incertae sedis"

Strain 121 is a single-celled microbe, of the domain Archaea. First discovered convert|200|mi|km off Puget Sound in a hydrothermal vent, it is a hyperthermophile, able to survive and reproduce at convert|121|°C|°F|lk=on (hence its name). It is the only known form of life that can tolerate such incredibly high temperatures. convert|130|°C|°F is proven to be only bacteriostatic for Strain 121, meaning that although growth is halted, the bacterium 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 sterilisation 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.

References

*cite journal |last=Kashefi |first=Kazem |authorlink= |coauthors=Lovley, Derek R. |year=2003 |month= |title=Extending the upper temperature limit for life |journal=Science |volume=301 |issue=5635 |pages=934 |doi=10.1126/science.1086823 |url= |accessdate= |quote=|pmid=12920290

External links

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1019156,00.html Guardian News]
* [http://www.pulseplanet.com/archive/May04/3190.html Pulse of the Planet]
* [http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4058 New Scientist article]
* [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/08/030815075108.htm Science Daily article]
* [http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/pr0384.htm NSF] "Microbe from Depths Takes Life to Hottest Known Limit"