Geyser Biology
June 9th, 2009 Posted in Geyser Science
Biology and geysers? It seems like an odd combination; however, geyser biology is a field of study that has gained importance and interest in the last few decades. Geyser biology is, as it sounds, the study of living organisms in geysers. Up until approximately fifty years ago, scientists were still convinced that nothing could survive in water above temperatures of approximately 163 °F (73 °C), not to mention the scalding waters found in geysers and hot springs.
This theory was proven wrong however when in 1966 Thomas D. Brock, from the University of Wisconsin, discovered microorganisms in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. In the decades since this discovery, these microorganisms have been found in geothermal locations around the globe, including Iceland, which is known for its numerous geysers. In addition to geysers, these microbes have been found in other bodies of water with high temperatures, such as the hot springs in Japan and Iceland.Not only have scientists discovered thermophiles—bacteria that prefer temperatures between 45 and 80 °C (113 °F to 176 °F), but they have even found a group of bacteria classified as hyperthermophiles.
Hyperthermophiles prefer temperatures above 80 °C. Some of these organisms can even survive at temperatures higher than the boiling point of water –100 °C (212 °F). This is a revolutionary change from fifty years ago when scientists thought the existence of such bacteria an impossibility.Undoubtedly, these microbes are fascinating to geologists and biologists, but what is the importance of these hardy bacteria? There is a reason why fields like biomedicine and industrial companies spend billions of dollars a year on enzymes.
These enzymes are used for everything from genetic identification to producing that “stonewashed” look in jeans. The only problem is that normal enzymes break down when exposed to high temperatures, which is not a problem for thermophiles and hyperthermophiles. Thus, by utilizing these hyperthermophiles, manufacturers could cut costs by skipping the steps that they would need to do in order to protect normal enzymes from extreme temperatures.
The results of some of these enzymes have been seen for over a hundred years. One visitor to Yellowstone National Park noted that when an article of clothing was dropped into a boiling pool and pulled out, it looked as if it had been cleaned with bleach. It was microbes that produced this bleach-like effect on clothing.
One of the first thermophiles discovered by Mr. Brock and colleagues that thrived at temperatures above 70 °C was the bacterium Thermus Aquaticus. This valuable microbe has been found to contain an enzyme that is used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Polymerase chain reaction is the technique used by scientists to copy and replicate DNA in a relatively brief period of time. This technique is used for DNA identification in criminal cases. Manufacturing is not the only field where these microbes have proven useful. Scientists believe that these organisms may provide new clues to the puzzle of evolution. Geyser biology may be a relatively new field, but its impact—if recent results are any prediction—will be great.