Extremophile
Extremophile
Extremophile (/ɛkˈstriːməˌfaɪl/; from Latin extremus meaning "extreme" and Greek philē meaning "love") refers to an organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth.
Etymology
The term "extremophile" was coined in the 1970s to describe organisms capable of survival or reproduction under extreme conditions. It is derived from the Latin extremus meaning "extreme" and the Greek philē meaning "love".
Types of Extremophiles
There are several types of extremophiles, each adapted to different extreme environments:
- Acidophile: An organism that thrives in highly acidic environments.
- Alkaliphile: An organism that thrives in highly alkaline environments.
- Halophile: An organism that thrives in high salt concentrations.
- Thermophile: An organism that thrives at relatively high temperatures.
- Psychrophile: An organism that thrives at relatively low temperatures.
- Piezophile: An organism that thrives at high pressures.
Related Terms
- Microorganism: A microscopic organism, which may be a single cell or multicellular organism.
- Habitat: The natural home or environment of an organism.
- Adaptation: The process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.
See Also
- Astrobiology: The study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe.
- Microbiology: The study of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Extremophile
- Wikipedia's article - Extremophile
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