Geogemma barossii: Difference between revisions

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==Description and Significance==
==Description and Significance==
Appearance: <i>G. barossii</i> is a coccoid Archaea, about 1.0 micrometers in diameter, with lophotrichous-like flagellation.<br>
<b>Appearance</b>: <i>G. barossii</i> is a coccoid Archaea, about 1.0 micrometers in diameter, with lophotrichous-like flagellation.<br>
Habitat: This hyperthermophile was originally discovered living in a deep sea hydrothermal called Finn, located in the Mothra hydrothermal vent field along the Endeavor segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, roughly 200 miles off Puget Sound. This “black smoker” vent is roughly a mile and a half deep. The microbe was found in a sulfur and iron-rich environment with a temperature range of 85-121 degrees Celsius. <i>G. barossii</i> can survive at 130 degrees Celsius, but remains bacteriostatic.<br>
<b>Habitat</b>: This hyperthermophile was originally discovered living in a deep sea hydrothermal called Finn, located in the Mothra hydrothermal vent field along the Endeavor segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, roughly 200 miles off Puget Sound. This “black smoker” vent is roughly a mile and a half deep. The microbe was found in a sulfur and iron-rich environment with a temperature range of 85-121 degrees Celsius. <i>G. barossii</i> can survive at 130 degrees Celsius, but remains bacteriostatic.<br>
Importance: It was previously believed that no organism could live beyond 121 degrees Celsius. In fact, the highest temperature believed to be tolerable was 113 degrees Celsius which P. fumarii is capable of tolerating. The ability to grow at such extreme temperatures increases the variety of environments microbes could be found in. This could hint to when and where Archaea may have lived on primordial Earth as well as how far deep into the Earth microbes could live today. This discovery also leads to the potential for life in harsh extraterrestrial environments.
<b>Importance</b>: It was previously believed that no organism could live beyond 121 degrees Celsius. In fact, the highest temperature believed to be tolerable was 113 degrees Celsius which P. fumarii is capable of tolerating. The ability to grow at such extreme temperatures increases the variety of environments microbes could be found in. This could hint to when and where Archaea may have lived on primordial Earth as well as how far deep into the Earth microbes could live today. This discovery also leads to the potential for life in harsh extraterrestrial environments.
 


==Genome Structure==
==Genome Structure==

Revision as of 22:47, 26 April 2009

Classification

Domain: Archaea
Phylum: Crenarchaeota
Class: Thermoprotei
Order: Desulfurococcales
Family: Pyrodictiaceae
Genus: Geogemma
Species: G. barossii

Description and Significance

Appearance: G. barossii is a coccoid Archaea, about 1.0 micrometers in diameter, with lophotrichous-like flagellation.
Habitat: This hyperthermophile was originally discovered living in a deep sea hydrothermal called Finn, located in the Mothra hydrothermal vent field along the Endeavor segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, roughly 200 miles off Puget Sound. This “black smoker” vent is roughly a mile and a half deep. The microbe was found in a sulfur and iron-rich environment with a temperature range of 85-121 degrees Celsius. G. barossii can survive at 130 degrees Celsius, but remains bacteriostatic.
Importance: It was previously believed that no organism could live beyond 121 degrees Celsius. In fact, the highest temperature believed to be tolerable was 113 degrees Celsius which P. fumarii is capable of tolerating. The ability to grow at such extreme temperatures increases the variety of environments microbes could be found in. This could hint to when and where Archaea may have lived on primordial Earth as well as how far deep into the Earth microbes could live today. This discovery also leads to the potential for life in harsh extraterrestrial environments.

Genome Structure

As a member of Archaea, G. barossii has a single circular chromosome. As of April 21, 2009, Dr. Kashefi and Dr. Lovely have not published any information regarding the size of the genome. However, after a 16S rDNA analysis of 1100 base pairs, it is clear that the microbe is most closely related to Pyrodictium occultum (96.0% similar) and Pyrobaculum aerophilum (95.3% similar). Not much else is known about the genome of G. barossii at this time.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.


Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Author

Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.